Eating and physical activity among preschoolers in Hamilton: Parents' and childcare staff's perceptions and experiences

This qualitative study is a needs assessment to examine parents' attitudes, perceptions, and experiences related to healthy eating and physical activity among preschoolers in three Hamilton childcare centers. Five parent and three childcare provider focus groups were conducted involving a total of 39 parent and 29 childcare staff participants. The number of participants per session ranged between 5-12. The data were transcribed and analyzed via the constant comparison method and themes were generated. Parents and childcare staff reported various supports and barriers they had encountered while attempting to establish healthy eating and physical activity patterns for their preschoolers. The findings indicate that program planners should consider the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and the physical environmental barriers when developing programs to help parents establish healthy eating and physical activity patterns among preschoolers. Implications for public health include providing programs that can support the development of preschoolers' healthy lifestyle patterns that carry into adulthood, thereby reducing their chances of developing chronic disease later in life.