The SUNRISE International Surveillance Study of the 24-hour movement behaviors in the early years is a first-of-its-kind research effort to collect data on preschool activity from low-, medium- and high-income countries around the world. Children ages 3 & 4 years participate in several assessments that measure physical, sedentary (watching videos, for example) and sleep activity. These assessments are typically conducted in person, like at a childcare center on a designated day. Due to complications created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, virtual visits where families perform the assessments at home with research team members on a video call may be an option. 

Participation in the SUNRISE study involves a few steps. First, a parent or legal guardian must agree to a child's participation in the study by completing a consent form. There are other forms to complete as part of the study, such as a questionnaire about the child's eating habits. Each child will be assessed on 9 to 10 activities, depending if the visit is in-person or virtual. These including cognitive function games on an iPad, fine and gross motor skills tests, and measuring the child's height and weight. After the skills assessments are complete, the child will wear an activity monitor called an accelerometer on a belt around their waist for five days. This monitor tells researchers when the child was active, inactive or sleeping with the help of the parent or guardian's observations. Learn more about what activities participants do in the SUNRISE study. 

Participation in the SUNRISE study carries minimal to no known risk. Children will be eligible for inclusion if they are between the ages of 3-4.9 years at the time of their in-person (virtual) visit, and if they are able to participate in all study activities, including wearing a physical activity monitoring device for five days. 

You are welcome to contact any of the SUNRISE teams at any time to request additional information. The study's coordinating center at Wollongong University also hosts an informative website if you are interested in learning more about the origins and international aspects of the SUNRISE study. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified the prevention of obesity in young children as one of its key priorities for the 21stCentury; movement behaviors play a key role in contributing to this. The information we learn from this study will help the global community move towards preventing young children from developing obesity and ensuring that they reach their developmental potential.