This paper describes the protocol for a 12-week mobile app-based randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of a home-based intervention to improve adherence to the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines in preschoolers who meet zero or one guideline.
Only one in 10 preschoolers aged 3-4 years meet all three 24-Hour Movement Guidelines.
The study is designed as a 12-week randomized controlled trial with a wait-list control enrolling 80 families.
The intervention is delivered via a mobile health app informed by behavior change theories and preliminary studies.
Primary outcomes include device-based and parent-report measures of 24-hour movement behaviors, with feasibility and acceptability of the app as secondary outcomes.
The study received IRB approval in April 2024, enrolled its first participant in January 2025, and had enrolled 39 families as of October 2025.
This research describes the design and early progress of a study testing whether a smartphone app can help young children (ages 3-4) follow healthy movement guidelines at home. The guidelines cover three behaviors: getting enough physical activity, limiting screen time, and sleeping enough. Currently, only about 1 in 10 preschoolers meets all three guidelines, which is a significant public health concern since these behaviors are linked to children's long-term health and development. The study randomly assigns 80 families to either receive the app-based program right away or wait to receive it after the 12-week trial period ends. The app was developed based on established behavior change theories and feedback from families in earlier studies. Researchers will measure children's movement behaviors using both wearable devices and parent-reported surveys, and they will also look at whether the app is practical and acceptable for families to use. Additional exploratory measures include children's thinking and motor skills and changes in the home environment. This research suggests that a mobile app could be a scalable, home-based way to help families support healthier movement habits in preschool-aged children across all three guideline areas simultaneously. If effective, the findings could inform future public health programs targeting early childhood health behaviors, which are known to track into later life.
Kracht C, Berge J, LeBlanc M, Newton R, Rhodes R, Bolamperti G, et al.. (2026). A Home-Based Intervention to Improve Adherence to the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines in Young Children: Protocol for a Mobile App-Based Randomized Control Trial.. JMIR research protocols. https://doi.org/10.2196/75621