Caregivers and stakeholders' priorities for research on young children’s physical activity, health and development

Insufficient physical activity remains a major issue among children under 10 years globally, posing a significant public health challenge. Effective interventions, policy, and practice require a strong evidence base, yet research agendas are often shaped by academic or funding priorities rather than the needs of the communities they serve, particularly those experiencing hardship.

Parents/caregivers of children aged 0-10 years ranked screen time, types and amounts of physical activity that best support health and development, environmental supports (nature/public open spaces, street safety, home yards) and equity for priority populations as key priorities for children’s physical activity, health and development. While their priorities overlap, parents/caregivers emphasised daily support, whereas stakeholders emphasised system-level solutions and translation of research.

The study presents the first Australian top 10 research priorities for young children’s physical activity, health and development from the perspective of parents/caregivers and stakeholders, considering children experiencing hardship. This co-produced agenda provides direction for future research, policy and practice targeting early childhood, a critical window for establishing movement behaviours and developmental trajectories over the lifetime.