Perceptions of Early Childhood Educators: Factors Influencing the Promotion of Physical Activity Opportunities in Canadian Rural Care Centers

Physical activity is a key component of health living and it reduces the risk of developing chronic disease. Current research indicates that Canadian early years children are not active enough for healthy growth and development. Parents play a key role in establishing healthy behaviours; however caregivers also have a strong influence, as many early years children spend a large portion in their day in care centres. To date, very little is known about the physical activity practises in rural care centres. The purpose of this study is to use an ecological framework to identify specific factors (facilitators and barriers) that rural caregivers face when providing physical activity opportunities in care centres. Caregivers in rural settings participated in one on one semi-structured interviews. Reported facilitators and barriers perceived by caregivers were categorized using the ecological model as individual level (i.e., intrapersonal) or social environmental (interpersonal, institutional, community, and policy). Caregivers identified individual facilitators and barriers. (i.e., personal health and wellness) and several social environmental facilitators and barriers (i.e., lack of knowledge; parental support), that influence their ability to provide physical activity opportunities for children in their care.