Introduction:

Playing is a fundamental activity of childhood. The primary goal of this study was to characterize the playing habits of Portuguese children aged between three and five years old. The secondary goals were to investigate children’s sleeping habits, audiovisual media exposure, and behavior, as well as caregivers´ perception of these.

Material and methods:

Observational study based on the application of an online questionnaire to parents and caregivers about children’s sociodemographic features, playing habits, exposure to screens, sleep, and behavior.

Results:

A total of 240 questionnaires were retrieved, 58.3% (n=140) of which regarding male children. Overall, 93.9% (n=225) of children attended or had previously attended kindergarten, 56.9% (n=137) practiced at least one extracurricular activity, 64.4% (n=155) played outdoors in most days, and 80.9% (n=194) played with their peers. Most caregivers (68.3%, n=164) daily played with their children, but 95% (n=228) would like to do it more often. Free play was preferred among children (64%, n=154). Most children (77.4%, n=186) had contacted with audiovisual media before the age of 18 months. Most caregivers (89.6%, n=215) considered that their children slept well, with 27.4% (n=66) acknowledging that they threw frequent tantrums and 21.3% (n=51) that they were impulsive or aggressive. Most caregivers recognized the importance of playing for children. Regarding sleep habits and behavior, lower focus in quiet activities (odds ratio [OR] 4.638, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.902-11.314) and more regular tantrums (OR 2.317, 95% CI 1.022-5.250) were independent predictors of sleeping problems.

Conclusion:

Free playing, frequent outdoor playing, and playing with other children stood out as protective factors of children’s physical and mental health. However, inadequate screen exposure and schedule overload with structured activities represent concerns that should be addressed in Pediatric appointments. Family-centered playful learning should be encouraged.

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