Open AccessAfter lunch naps reduce the afternoon motor activity of 4-5-year old enrolled in full-time childcare
Author(s) -
Eduardo Furtado Magalhães
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
revista neurociências
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1984-4905
pISSN - 0104-3579
DOI - 10.34024/rnc.2014.v22.8095
Subject(s) - nap , actigraphy , motor activity , physical activity , child care , gross motor skill , psychology , sleep (system call) , medicine , audiology , circadian rhythm , motor skill , physical therapy , developmental psychology , pediatrics , social psychology , computer science , operating system
Objective. To determine the relationship between napping and the afternoon motor activity of preschool-aged children. Method. Participants were 42 healthy 4-5-year olds from two child care centers (CCCs) - one where children could choose whether or not to nap after lunch (CCC I) and another one where all children were encouraged to do so (CCC II). Each participant wore an actigraphy watch for seven days so that their sleep/wake cycle and afternoon motor activity were objectively measured. In order to compare the children´s mean afternoon motor activity on napping and non-napping days, all children were required not to nap on at least one weekday. Results. The children´s mean afternoon motor activity was negatively correlated to their mean nap duration (r=-0.46; p<0.05 ). The mean motor activity was smaller on nap days compared to non-nap days for the CCC II (t = -2.33; p<0.03) but not for the CCC I (t=0.96; p=0.35). Conclusion. After lunch naps reduce the afternoon motor activity of 4-5- year olds enrolled in full-time child care.