Abstract
Background: Young children are not participating in recommended levels of physical activity and exhibit high
levels of sedentary behaviour. Childcare services provide access to large numbers of young children for prolonged
periods, yet there is limited experimental evidence regarding the effectiveness of physical activity interventions
implemented in this setting. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of a multicomponent
physical activity intervention, delivered by childcare service staff, in increasing the physical activity
levels of children attending long day care services.
Methods/Design: The study will employ a cluster randomised controlled trial design. Three hundred children aged
between 3-5 years from twenty randomly selected long day care services in the Hunter Region of New South
Wales, Australia will be invited to participate in the trial. Ten of the 20 long day care services will be randomly
allocated to deliver the intervention with the remaining ten services allocated to a wait list control group. The
physical activity intervention will consist of a number of strategies including: delivering structured fundamental
movement skill activities, increasing physical activity opportunities, increasing staff role modelling, providing
children with a physical activity promoting indoor and outdoor environment and limiting children’s small screen
recreation and sedentary behaviours. Intervention effectiveness will be measured via child physical activity levels
during attendance at long day care. The study also seeks to determine the acceptability and extent of
implementation of the intervention by services and their staff participating in the study.
Discussion: The trial will address current gaps in the research evidence base and contribute to the design and
delivery of future interventions promoting physical activity for young children in long day care settings.