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'Sit Down and Eat': Daily Associations between Preschoolers' Physical Activity at Dinner and Parents' Feeding Coparenting and Control

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Title: 'Sit Down and Eat': Daily Associations between Preschoolers' Physical Activity at Dinner and Parents' Feeding Coparenting and Control
Language: English
Authors: Jackie A. Nelson (ORCID 0000-0003-4916-2441), Mariam Hafiz, Elizabeth Nuth, Melissa D. Heinrich, Shayla C. Holub
Source: Developmental Psychology. 2026 62(5):903-914.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Preschool Children, Physical Activity Level, Parenting Styles, Cues, Eating Habits, Food, Fathers, Mothers, Child Behavior
DOI: 10.1037/dev0001953
ISSN: 0012-1649
1939-0599
Abstract: Although it is developmentally appropriate for preschoolers to be highly active, this physical activity level can be difficult for parents to manage at mealtime when children are asked to sit and focus on eating. We examined how children's physical activity levels across the week related to parents' feeding coparenting efforts and how parent feeding pressure and prompts to change the child's activity mediated these associations. From a sample of 100 families with a preschool-age child (3-5 years, 49% female, 59% White, 12% Black, 10% Hispanic, 26% low-income), home dinners with mothers and fathers present were recorded in 65 families for seven consecutive days (455 total meals observed). Coders rated meals for children's activity level and parents' prompts for activity change, pressuring feeding behaviors, and feeding coparenting support, undermining, and balance. Multilevel structural equation models tested direct and indirect associations at within-person and between-person levels. On days children were more active than usual, parents engaged in more supportive feeding coparenting and used more prompts for children's activity change. Fathers' increased prompts for activity change explained associations between child activity level and supportive feeding coparenting. Although fathers' feeding pressure related to more supportive and balanced feeding coparenting, it was not predicted by child activity level and, thus, did not mediate associations between child activity and feeding coparenting. At the between-person level, children who were more physically active had parents who engaged in more undermining feeding coparenting. Results are discussed in terms of the consistency of children's physical activity and fathers' feeding engagement.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1503646
Database: ERIC
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  Data: 'Sit Down and Eat': Daily Associations between Preschoolers' Physical Activity at Dinner and Parents' Feeding Coparenting and Control
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jackie+A%2E+Nelson%22">Jackie A. Nelson</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4916-2441">0000-0003-4916-2441</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mariam+Hafiz%22">Mariam Hafiz</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elizabeth+Nuth%22">Elizabeth Nuth</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Melissa+D%2E+Heinrich%22">Melissa D. Heinrich</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shayla+C%2E+Holub%22">Shayla C. Holub</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Developmental+Psychology%22"><i>Developmental Psychology</i></searchLink>. 2026 62(5):903-914.
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Children%22">Preschool Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+Activity+Level%22">Physical Activity Level</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parenting+Styles%22">Parenting Styles</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cues%22">Cues</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Eating+Habits%22">Eating Habits</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Food%22">Food</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fathers%22">Fathers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mothers%22">Mothers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Behavior%22">Child Behavior</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1037/dev0001953
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  Data: 0012-1649<br />1939-0599
– Name: Abstract
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  Data: Although it is developmentally appropriate for preschoolers to be highly active, this physical activity level can be difficult for parents to manage at mealtime when children are asked to sit and focus on eating. We examined how children's physical activity levels across the week related to parents' feeding coparenting efforts and how parent feeding pressure and prompts to change the child's activity mediated these associations. From a sample of 100 families with a preschool-age child (3-5 years, 49% female, 59% White, 12% Black, 10% Hispanic, 26% low-income), home dinners with mothers and fathers present were recorded in 65 families for seven consecutive days (455 total meals observed). Coders rated meals for children's activity level and parents' prompts for activity change, pressuring feeding behaviors, and feeding coparenting support, undermining, and balance. Multilevel structural equation models tested direct and indirect associations at within-person and between-person levels. On days children were more active than usual, parents engaged in more supportive feeding coparenting and used more prompts for children's activity change. Fathers' increased prompts for activity change explained associations between child activity level and supportive feeding coparenting. Although fathers' feeding pressure related to more supportive and balanced feeding coparenting, it was not predicted by child activity level and, thus, did not mediate associations between child activity and feeding coparenting. At the between-person level, children who were more physically active had parents who engaged in more undermining feeding coparenting. Results are discussed in terms of the consistency of children's physical activity and fathers' feeding engagement.
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        Value: 10.1037/dev0001953
    Languages:
      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 903
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      – SubjectFull: Preschool Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Physical Activity Level
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Parenting Styles
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      – SubjectFull: Cues
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      – SubjectFull: Eating Habits
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      – SubjectFull: Food
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      – SubjectFull: Fathers
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      – SubjectFull: Mothers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child Behavior
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: 'Sit Down and Eat': Daily Associations between Preschoolers' Physical Activity at Dinner and Parents' Feeding Coparenting and Control
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