Table 1 Conceptual solution of the physical activity parenting practice statements (n = 77) sorted by the experts (n = 24)

Permissive

Child has a television in bedroom*

Allow child to watch TV or play video/computer games whenever s/he wants to*

Allow child to be less active when on vacation*

Allow child to skip physical activity or sports when s/he wants to

Pressuring

Complain to or make child feel bad for not exercising

Tell child that spending time in front of a screen is not good for his/her health/eyesight/weight*

Pressure child to try harder at sports or his/her physical activity

Punish child if s/he is sedentary instead of being active (i.e. no snacks or take away TV/computer privileges)*

Tell my child that s/he needs to exercise so that s/he can lose weight

Show child that you are angry when s/he does not participate in regular physical activity or exercise

Remind/nag child to exercise or be physically active

If child says ‘I don’t feel like walking or bicycling there,’ try to get him/her to do this anyway

Criticize or tell child s/he is not good when doing certain sports

Have a rule ‘If you want a treat, you need to exercise’

Punish child by not allowing him/her to take part in physical activity or sports

Encouragement

Tell child that physical activity will make him/her look good

Tell child that physical activity or vigorous exercise is good for his/her health and will make him/her feel good

Show child examples of role models (i.e. people who are active) to encourage him/her to be active

Encourage child to participate in physical activity or play sports (./in his/her free time)

Encourage child to be less sedentary*

Encourage child to be active for at least 60 min per day

Try to encourage child to do physical activities by telling s/he will make new friends

Encourage active video games as a way to be active indoors

Encourage child to walk, bike or use resources (park or community center) in neighborhood to be active

Tell child s/he is doing well in physical activities or sports

Get child to be physically active by telling how much fun the activity is

Guided choice

Allow child to choose whether s/he participates in sports or vigorous physical activity in free time

Negotiate with child on how much physical activity/sports s/he does

Negotiate with child on how much TV/video/DVD s/he is allowed to watch*

Provide child with physical activity options from which my child can choose

Involvement

Show an interest in child’s sports by talking about his/her activities

Involve child in active chores and yard work around the house

Go to child’s sports or physical activities and watch child participate

Watch sports with child, talk about sports with child, and take child to sports games, to encourage participation in physical activity

Involved in child’s activities (e.g., coaching activities, watching child play)

Spend time teaching child how to play a sport or do certain physical activities

Praises / Rewards

Tell child that you like it when s/he is physically active

Reward child for exercising

Praise child for being physically active or for participating in sports

Co-participation

Practice active habits with child (e.g. parking far from the door, taking the stairs)

Play sports or active games with child

Invite child to join your exercise or do something active with you

Go for walks with child

Use sport/physical activity as a form of family recreation (e.g., going on bike rides together, hiking, skating)

Expectations

Make sure child uses active transportation when going places close to home (e.g. walking, biking)

Limit the amount of time child spends [sedentary activity] on weekend/weekday [playing computer games, watching TV, watching videos, electronic games, video games, on the phone]*

Make child responsible for taking the dog for a walk and/or playing with the dog

If the weather is nice, child knows that s/he is expected to play outside

Make sure child is physically active at least 60 min per day

Have a rule that child must participate in active sports or physical activities

Facilitation

Buy/provide physical activity or sports equipment for child

Take child to the park, playground, or places that s/he can be physically active

Help child find ways to reduce his/her sedentary habits

Store child’s active toys/sports equipment in a place that is easily accessible

Enroll child in sports and physical activity programs

Try to make physical activity into a fun game to get child more active

Arrange for child to be with friends in order to be active with them

Encourage competition or set challenges (e.g., walking a certain distance) during activities to get child more active

Modeling

Child sees you being sedentary or is sedentary with you*

If you would like to watch TV/video/DVD, you restrain yourself because of the presence of child*

Use own active behavior to encourage child to be physically active

Monitoring

Keep track of the amount of physical activity or exercise child gets

Keep track of the amount of time child spends in front of screens (e.g television, computer)*

Restriction for safety/academic concerns

Restrict child’s outdoor activities because neighborhood is not safe

When child plays outside, s/he must be supervised

Don’t allow child to play on community or sports teams (./so s/he can concentrate on schoolwork)

Have rules that child is not allowed to walk to the neighborhood park alone

Have a rule that child must do homework before s/he is able to exercise or be physically active

Don’t allow child to play outside in the street after dark or after a certain time

Prohibit child from playing certain sports

Restrict some physical activities because afraid child will be hurt

Restrict the amount of time child spends playing outside

Restrict [activity type] inside the house [active play, ball games, running, riding tricycle/scooter]

Drop

Reward child for good behavior with TV, DVD, or computer time – Drop because the behavior is unspecified and need practices that are more specific)*

Do not enroll child in physical activities that are too expensive – Drop because (Capture socio-economic issues which does not fit with other items dropped from clustering but can be included as a single item)

Enroll child in too many activities leaving no time for free play (not specific to physical activity)

Try to get child to be active (e.g. playing tag, biking, dancing) instead of watching TV or playing video games (Drop because how parent achieve this is unspecified)