Young children may seem to be constantly running, jumping and moving, and new international research shows just how active preschoolers can be.
A study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health found that children aged three and four take a median of about 18,542 steps per day. The research included more than 3,500 children from 44 countries, including India.
The Study Looked at Children Across 44 Countries
Researchers collected step-count data from 3,570 children between 2018 and 2025. The children wore activity trackers on their hips for at least three days, allowing researchers to record their everyday movement.
The study provides what researchers describe as the first international reference values for daily steps among preschool-age children.
Boys and Girls Showed Different Step Counts
The research found differences in average activity between boys and girls.
Among three-year-olds, boys recorded a median of about 18,064 steps a day, compared with 16,426 for girls. At age four, the figures were around 19,477 for boys and 18,321 for girls.
However, children’s activity levels varied considerably, so these numbers should not be treated as a standard that every child must reach.
18,500 Steps Is Not a Daily Target
One of the study’s most important messages is that 18,500 steps should not become a prescribed goal for every preschooler.
The researchers describe the figures as reference values that can help show how much children naturally move across different populations. Factors such as location, lifestyle and individual behaviour can influence activity levels.
Outdoor Play Still Matters
The findings highlight the importance of creating opportunities for young children to move naturally.
Running, walking, climbing, dancing, playing games and exploring outdoors can all contribute to a child’s daily physical activity. Rather than focusing only on a number displayed by a tracker, parents can encourage children to spend less time sitting and more time engaged in active play.
Activity Levels Can Vary Widely
The study found a substantial range in children’s daily movement. Some three-year-olds recorded just over 1,100 steps, while the most active recorded more than 29,000.
Researchers also observed higher activity levels among children in low- and middle-income countries and rural settings compared with children in high-income countries and urban areas. The reasons for these differences cannot be established from this observational study alone.
What Parents Can Take Away
The research offers a useful reminder that movement is an important part of early childhood. Parents do not need to make children chase a particular step count.
Instead, regular opportunities for active play, outdoor time and movement throughout the day can help children stay physically engaged. The study’s value lies in showing the wide range of activity seen among preschoolers around the world not in setting a universal step-count requirement.