The Association between the Frequency of Out-of-School Participation in Exercise and Active Play and Emotional and Behavioral Characteristics in Children Aged 3-6 Years Nationwide

This study examined the relationship between the frequency of exercise and active play and the emotional and behavioral characteristics of preschool-aged children (3-6 years) outside of kindergarten or nursery school. It used secondary data from a web-based survey conducted by the Sasakawa Sports Foundation in November 2023. The survey sample was determined based on regional blocks, age categories (3-6 years), and gender, in alignment with census demographic data. Subsequently, information regarding the children's exercise and active play was collected, targeting parents of children who met the established criteria. Participants were asked about their children's participation in exercise and active play, including “outdoor play,” “indoor play,” and “sports-related lessons,” on each day of the week. The cumulative number of days per week in which children engaged in these activities was used as the frequency of exercise and active play.