Children's physical activity and the preschool physical environment: The moderating role of gender

•Several physical environmental factors were associated with children’s physical activity.•Jumping or balancing equipment, hilly terrain and sand as a surface were associated with higher physical activity.•Seesaws and gravel as a surface were associated with lower physical activity.•Gender did not moderate the associations between environmental factors and physical activity.•A variety of equipment and a diversity of natural surfaces in preschools is essential.