Barns lek och hälsa -ur ett föräldraperspektiv

: "Det krävs balans för att få ett tryggt barn i en sund kropp"

Abstract

Background: Children are different and they live under different conditions, but one they have in common - the desire to play. Children's play is important for their health and wellbeing. The aim: was to highlight the knowledge and issues that preschool children's parents have about young children's health and wellbeing, with a focus on physical activity and play, to promote health. A further aim was to highlight the obstacles and opportunities that parents experience regarding physical activity for young children. Material and Methods: The main study two focus group interviews were used with eight parents of children of preschool age. The interview texts were analyzed by qualitative content analysis. Results: The analysis resulted in two main categories and three sub-categories. Main categories were: “children's health and well being - different things” and “find the balance to promote health and wellbeing". Subcategories were: "a balance between different environments and arenas”,  "balance between freedom and organized activity and rest" and “the balance between different responsibilities ". Conclusion: The parents expressed that much were about "balance". The study highlights the parents constant "struggle" between the various demands and responsibilities and to keep daily life together with all the demands. To assist / advise parents to find a balance in everyday life could be seen as a health promotion and preventive intervention for childrens health.