Trajectories of physical activity and screen media use in toddlers and related parenting practices: Child and Mother Physical Activity Study (CAMPAS)
- 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Buehler Center for Health Policy and Economics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 750 N Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611 USA
- 2Department of Counseling, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA USA
- 3Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC USA
Abstract
Background: Physical activity (PA) and limited screen media use are key behaviors for healthy development in early childhood. This study aimed to investigate 12-month trajectories of PA and screen time among toddlers, and to examine their associations with parenting practices.
Methods: This study used data from the Child and Mother PA Study (CAMPAS) collected at approximately 12, 18, and 24 months of age (waves 1–3). CAMPAS included 139 toddler-mother dyads residing in the Chicago area who were recruited between 2022 and 2024. Toddlers’ PA was measured using hip-worn ActiGraph accelerometers and their screen time was reported by mothers. The Preschooler PA Parenting Practices (PPAPP) questionnaire was used to assess PA-encouraging and screen time-limiting parenting practices. Mixed-effects models were fit to model trajectories of moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) and screen time over age. Multivariable mixed-effects regression models examined the associations between toddlers’ MVPA and screen time and their parents’ parenting practice scores.
Results: Analyses included 139 toddler-mother dyads (53.2% female children) with 84.9% retention at wave 3. At waves 1–3, average age was 13.6 (SD = 1.7), 19.9 (SD = 1.6), and 26.9 (SD = 2.1) months, respectively. Average MVPA was 74 (95%CI = 70–79), 73 (95%CI = 69–77), and 80 (95%CI = 75–85) minutes/day, respectively, with no significant change over time (p = 0.13). Average screen time was 27 (95%CI = 21–33), 46 (95%CI = 38–55), and 59 (95%CI = 50–69) minutes/day, respectively, significantly increasing over time (p < 0.01). A one-point higher PA-encouraging parenting practice score was associated with 9 additional minutes of daily MVPA (95%CI = 2–15). A one-point higher screen time-limiting parenting practice score was associated with 45 fewer minutes of daily screen time (95%CI = 38–52).
Conclusion: During the second year of life, toddlers exhibited a substantial increase in screen time but minimal changes in MVPA. Parenting practices were associated with toddlers’ MVPA and screen time. Findings suggest that promoting parenting practices that encourage PA and limit screen time may be an effective intervention strategy to support healthy PA and screen use development during this critical developmental period.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-026-07538-3.
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BibTeX
@article{kwon2026trajectories,
title = {{Trajectories of physical activity and screen media use in toddlers and related parenting practices: Child and Mother Physical Activity Study (CAMPAS)}},
author = {Soyang Kwon and Nidhi S. Gopagani and Isabella R. Zylka and Sarah B. Welch and Bridget Armstrong},
journal = {BMC Pediatrics},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12887-026-07538-3},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-026-07538-3},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Trajectories of physical activity and screen media use in toddlers and related parenting practices: Child and Mother Physical Activity Study (CAMPAS)
AU - Soyang Kwon
AU - Nidhi S. Gopagani
AU - Isabella R. Zylka
AU - Sarah B. Welch
AU - Bridget Armstrong
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/15
JO - BMC Pediatrics
DO - 10.1186/s12887-026-07538-3
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-026-07538-3
AB - Background: Physical activity (PA) and limited screen media use are key behaviors for healthy development in early childhood. This study aimed to investigate 12-month trajectories of PA and screen time among toddlers, and to examine their associations with parenting practices. Methods: This study used data from the Child and Mother PA Study (CAMPAS) collected at approximately 12, 18, and 24 months of age (waves 1–3). CAMPAS included 139 toddler-mother dyads residing in the Chicago area who were recruited between 2022 and 2024. Toddlers’ PA was measured using hip-worn ActiGraph accelerometers and their screen time was reported by mothers. The Preschooler PA Parenting Practices (PPAPP) questionnaire was used to assess PA-encouraging and screen time-limiting parenting practices. Mixed-effects models were fit to model trajectories of moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) and screen time over age. Multivariable mixed-effects regression models examined the associations between toddlers’ MVPA and screen time and their parents’ parenting practice scores. Results: Analyses included 139 toddler-mother dyads (53.2% female children) with 84.9% retention at wave 3. At waves 1–3, average age was 13.6 (SD = 1.7), 19.9 (SD = 1.6), and 26.9 (SD = 2.1) months, respectively. Average MVPA was 74 (95%CI = 70–79), 73 (95%CI = 69–77), and 80 (95%CI = 75–85) minutes/day, respectively, with no significant change over time (p = 0.13). Average screen time was 27 (95%CI = 21–33), 46 (95%CI = 38–55), and 59 (95%CI = 50–69) minutes/day, respectively, significantly increasing over time (p < 0.01). A one-point higher PA-encouraging parenting practice score was associated with 9 additional minutes of daily MVPA (95%CI = 2–15). A one-point higher screen time-limiting parenting practice score was associated with 45 fewer minutes of daily screen time (95%CI = 38–52). Conclusion: During the second year of life, toddlers exhibited a substantial increase in screen time but minimal changes in MVPA. Parenting practices were associated with toddlers’ MVPA and screen time. Findings suggest that promoting parenting practices that encourage PA and limit screen time may be an effective intervention strategy to support healthy PA and screen use development during this critical developmental period. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-026-07538-3.
SN - 1471-2431
ER -