Lifestyle of modern first-grade children

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Introduction. During childhood, not only rapid growth and intensive metabolic processes occur, but all body systems also actively develop [1, 2, 3]. The nervous system, which plays a key role in regulating behavior and emotional responses, is being formed and refined, allowing children to acquire new skills and adapt to their environment. The psyche and personality traits also undergo active development, laying the foundation for future social and emotional maturity. Starting school is a significant milestone in a child's life. This event is often accompanied by stress [2, 3], as the child is faced with new social demands regarding discipline, independence, and responsibility. Negative effects may manifest as neurotic tendencies, increased anxiety, sleep and appetite disturbances. Successful school adaptation largely depends on the child’s readiness for learning, emotional state, and support from parents and teachers [1]. In addition, lifestyle and daily routine play a crucial role in the adaptation process, sometimes even more so than the school environment itself.

Objective. To study the lifestyle of first-grade students in order to identify risk factors and develop recommendations for their elimination.

Materials and Methods. A custom-designed questionnaire consisting of 33 questions was developed for this study. Respondents could select one or several options or provide their own answers. A total of 177 parents of first-grade students participated in the survey.

Research Results. According to the survey results, almost all parents (99%) believe that a healthy lifestyle has a direct impact on a child’s health; however, 8% consider this impact to be minor. Only 1% of respondents stated that a healthy lifestyle has no relation to health. In addition to lifestyle, parents most frequently cited poor environmental conditions, shortcomings in children's healthcare, heredity, and a lack of health-related information as key factors affecting health. Among the components of a healthy lifestyle, respondents mentioned a balanced diet, physical activity and sports, personal hygiene, emotional comfort, an optimal activity regimen, avoidance of harmful habits, and tempering practices.

Only 39% of parents reported that their children strictly follow a daily routine, while the remaining 61% said their children follow it inconsistently or not at all. On weekdays, first-graders sleep an average of 8–9 hours, while on weekends, the average is 10 hours. These results indirectly suggest that parents may have limited awareness of the appropriate daily regimen for first-graders. A consistent schedule across both weekdays and weekends is one of the main factors contributing to a smooth school adaptation.

The survey also showed a clear dependence of time spent outdoors on the day of the week. On weekends, the average outdoor time is 2–3 hours (40%), while on weekdays it is less than one hour (50%). Although first-grade students are not formally assigned homework, many parents noted that nearly half of the children spend about one hour doing homework (46%), slightly fewer spend around two hours (32%), and some need three or even four hours (15% and 7%, respectively).

The most common leisure activities were outdoor walks (67%), computer games (57%), watching TV (52%), and drawing (48%). In response to the question: “How much time does your child spend on the computer and watching TV?”, the majority of respondents indicated 1–2 hours. However, the time spent in the virtual world also correlated with the day of the week. The primary activity was playing computer games (89%).

Just over half of parents (53%) stated that their children eat four times a day, 20% said three times a day, and 12% said the number of meals was not controlled. The most commonly consumed daily foods included dairy products, meat, fruits, and sweets; sausages, pasta, chips, and fast food were also frequently mentioned.

As for physical activity, parents primarily identified physical education classes and sports games. However, 77% of respondents said their children do not do morning exercises. Furthermore, 73% reported not conducting any tempering procedures, while 23% do them occasionally.

Only 53% of children feel emotionally comfortable at school, 38% feel comfortable only sometimes, and 9% always feel uncomfortable. Fatigue at the end of the week was reported by the majority of parents (55%).

According to the survey, all first-graders are aware of the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. This information is most commonly provided by parents, mass media, and teachers, and less frequently through the internet and peers.

Conclusion. Thus, the survey conducted among first-grade students in Ivanovo revealed that their lifestyle cannot be considered healthy. This represents a risk factor for health problems and does not promote a smooth adaptation to school life. These findings highlight the need to strengthen health education efforts for both children and their parents, ideally beginning during the preschool period.

About the authors

Daria Aleksandrovna Zhinkina

Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Ivanovo State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

Author for correspondence.
Email: darazinkina4050@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0007-6971-7519
Russian Federation, 8 Sheremetevsky Prospekt, Ivanovo, Ivanovo Region, 153012, Russian Federation

Anastasia Vladimirovna Shishova

Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Ivanovo State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

Email: shishova@inbox.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0471-0790

M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Professor of the Department of Outpatient Pediatrics, Vice-Rector for Educational Affairs

Russian Federation, 8 Sheremetevsky Prospekt, Ivanovo, Ivanovo Region, 153012, Russian Federation

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