Study: Weather Patterns Significantly Impact Preschoolers' Physical Activity

A new study of over 3,300 children aged three to five from preschools in the Stockholm area reveals that weather conditions are strongly correlated with physical activity and sedentary behavior.

"The study shows that weather is not a factor that can be ignored when studying children's physical activity habits."
— Pablo Campos-Garzón, lead author and researcher, Karolinska Institutet

How Weather Changes Activity Levels

Children were most active on sunny and warm days. On cold and cloudy days, the shift in behavior was substantial:

• Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity decreased by about 15 minutes per day
• Light physical activity decreased by about 32 minutes per day
• Sedentary time increased by nearly 47 minutes per day, compared to sunny days

Rainy and cloudy days were also associated with less physical activity and more sedentary behavior, though these differences were smaller.

Key Patterns Emerge

The associations between weather and activity were similar for both girls and boys. However, researchers found that the weather's impact was more pronounced on weekends than on weekdays.

"We see that everyday weather conditions are clearly linked to how children's time is divided between physical activity and sedentary behaviour."
— Campos-Garzón

The Role of Adults

While the study could not determine exactly why children move less in poor weather, researchers point to a key factor: adult decision-making.

"Young children depend on adults to give them the opportunity to be active. If adults feel that rain, cold or darkness make it less appealing to go outside, this is likely to affect children's physical activity."
— Campos-Garzón

"That is why nursery routines are so important — they can help make physical activity a natural part of the day, whatever the weather," he added.

Methodology

• Children's physical activity was measured using accelerometers worn on the wrist
• Daily weather data came from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)
• Days were grouped into "weather profiles" (e.g., sunny and warm, cold and cloudy) rather than analyzing temperature, rain, and sunshine separately

The study "Sunny days, cloudy behavior? Associations between weather patterns and movement behaviors in preschoolers using compositional data analysis" is published in Environmental Research (online June 2, 2026, doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2026.124902).

The study was funded by Region Stockholm, the Swedish Cancer Society, and the Swedish Research Council for Sport Science. The researchers declared no conflicts of interest.