Obesity Prevention in the Early Care and Education Setting: Successful Initiatives across a Spectrum of Opportunities

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (S2) ◽  
pp. 8-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith A. Reynolds ◽  
Caree Jackson Cotwright ◽  
Barbara Polhamus ◽  
Allison Gertel-Rosenberg ◽  
Debbie Chang
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Obesity Prevention ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Early Care ◽  
Breastfeeding Support ◽  
Practice Recommendations

The Early Care and Education (ECE) track presentations from CDC’s Weight of the Nation (WON) 2012 conference showcased innovative national, state, and community obesity prevention efforts. The track was organized around CDC’s “Spectrum of Opportunities” for obesity prevention in ECE (the Spectrum; Table 1), which outlines a common set of opportunities that can enhance the ECE environment with respect to nutrition, breastfeeding support, physical activity, and screen time — all important areas for obesity prevention targeting young children. Participants discussed the opportunities on the spectrum that had been pursued, the obesity prevention standards and best practices that had been the emphasis of their efforts, and common steps for developing, implementing, and evaluating initiatives. This paper provides background information on why ECE is an important component of any jurisdiction’s obesity prevention efforts, references for the primary national reports offering standards and best practice recommendations, an introduction to the Spectrum, and brief summaries of the WON ECE track presentations.

scholarly journals Obesity prevention in early care and education: a comparison of licensing regulations across Canadian provinces and territories

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 362-373
Author(s):  
Kelsey A Vercammen ◽  
Johannah M Frelier ◽  
Mary Kathryn Poole ◽  
Erica L Kenney
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Obesity Prevention ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Early Care ◽  
Canadian Province ◽  
Maximum Score ◽  
Time Standards ◽  
Canadian Provinces

Abstract Background Early care and education (ECE) settings represent an important point of intervention for childhood obesity prevention efforts. The objective of this paper was to compare ECE licensing regulations for each Canadian province/territory to evidence-based, obesity prevention standards. Methods Two authors reviewed existing ECE regulations for each province/territory and examined whether the regulatory text supported standards for nutrition (n = 11), physical activity (n = 5) and screen time (n = 4). Provinces/territories were evaluated on the strength of regulatory language for each standard (i.e. fully, partially, or not addressed) and a total comprehensiveness score (maximum score of 20). ECE centres and homes were examined separately. Results The majority of provinces/territories required providers to follow Canada’s Food Guide, but few had regulations for specific foods or beverages. Most provinces/territories included standards related to written menus and drinking water, but the strength of these standards was weak. Many provinces/territories required physical activity and outdoor opportunities to be provided daily, but few included a time requirement. Only two provinces included any screen time standards. Total comprehensiveness scores averaged 5.7 for centres and 5.4 for homes. Conclusions Canadian provinces/territories have insufficient obesity prevention regulations in ECE settings, highlighting a potential point of intervention to prevent obesity.

Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Performance Standards ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Early Care ◽  
Education Programs

Updated set of national standards describing evidence-based best practices in nutrition, physical activity, and screen time for early care and education programs. The new Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education, 2nd ed. is the new set of national standards describing evidence-based best practices in nutrition, physical activity, and screen time for early care and education programs. The standards are for all types of early care and education settings - centers and family child care homes. These updated standards will be a part of the new comprehensive Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards: Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 3rd Edition.

scholarly journals Screen-Time Policies and Practices in Early Care and Education Centers in Relationship to Child Physical Activity

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 341-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda E. Staiano ◽  
Elizabeth Kipling Webster ◽  
Andrew T. Allen ◽  
Amber R. Jarrell ◽  
Corby K. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
Early Care ◽  
Child Physical Activity ◽  
Policies And Practices

scholarly journals Young Children’s Screen Time and Physical Activity: Perspectives of Parents and Early Care and Education Center Providers

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 2333794X1986585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth D. Joseph ◽  
Chelsea L. Kracht ◽  
Jessica St. Romain ◽  
Andrew T. Allen ◽  
Caroline Barbaree ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Children's Health ◽  
Children’S Health ◽  
Early Care

Early care and education (ECE) providers and parents can facilitate physical activity (PA) and reduce screen time in preschoolers. Input from caregivers on barriers and facilitators of PA and screen time is needed to comprehensively address these behaviors and promote children’s health. Four focus groups (3 parent and 1 ECE provider) were conducted. Thematic analysis was performed to identify themes and subthemes. Twenty-eight caregivers (21 parents and 7 ECE providers) participated. Caregivers reported responsibility for modeling and shaping children’s PA and screen time. Parents felt that a busy lifestyle was a PA barrier and encouraged screen time. ECE providers were concerned about certain environmental influences on PA. The groups differed in their view of screen time as either entertainment (parents) or educational (providers). Both types of caregivers were unaware of PA or screen time guidelines. Investigation into opportunities to utilize screen time to serve priorities of both caregivers and promote child PA are needed.

scholarly journals Effectiveness in adapting the implementation of the Early Care and Education Learning Collaboratives Project (ECELC) using real-world conditions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa M Garvin ◽  
Alethea Chiappone ◽  
Lisa Weissenburger-Moser Boyd ◽  
Julie Shuell ◽  
Catherine Plumlee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Action Planning ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
Early Care ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Learning Collaboratives

Abstract The National Early Care and Education Learning Collaboratives Project (ECELC) was a multistate intervention that was highly effective in implementing best practices for healthy eating physical activity (HEPA) in early care and education (ECE) programs across the USA. The ECELC included didactic in-person learning sessions, technical assistance, and self-assessment-guided action planning. This study aimed to describe the effectiveness of adaptions to the self-assessments, learning sessions, and overall support, and also aimed to compare the effectiveness of each to the Original ECELC Model, when applicable. This study utilized a pre-poststudy design using data collected via the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) instrument for ECE programs that adapted the Original ECELC Model. Adaptations to the Original ECELC Model were found to promote best practices and policies with regard to Breastfeeding & Infant Feeding, Child Nutrition, Infant & Child Physical Activity, Outdoor Play & Learning, and/or Screen Time as demonstrated by the NAP SACC (p < .05), with some exceptions of nonstatistically significant increases. Improvements were found to be statistically similar to improvements made among participants of the Original ECELC Model. Partner-driven, scalable, and customizable policy- and practice-based interventions to promote HEPA among children in ECE settings may serve as a key strategy to work toward reducing risk for childhood obesity.

scholarly journals Provider Adherence to Nutrition and Physical Activity Best Practices Within Early Care and Education Settings in Minnesota, Helping to Reduce Early Childhood Health Disparities

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Loth ◽  
Amy Shanafelt ◽  
Cynthia Davey ◽  
Allison Anfinson ◽  
Marguerite Zauner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Child Care ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
Child Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Early Care ◽  
Early Childhood Health ◽  
Nutrition And Physical Activity

Licensed child care providers, and the early care and education settings in which they operate, are uniquely situated to influence children’s healthy eating and physical activity through practices, attitudes, and supportive physical and social environments. However, preliminary research indicates that child-, family-, and provider-level characteristics affect adherence to best practices across early care and education settings. The current article used survey data ( n = 618) to characterize differences in child care providers’ adherence to nutrition, physical activity, and mealtime best practices, based on child-, family- and provider-level characteristics, and to describe secular trends in adherence to nutrition and physical activity best practices between 2010 and 2016. Results indicate that differences exist across certain characteristics, including child race/ethnicity, family’s use of child care assistance, language spoken at home, and provider educational attainment; however, it is notable that in most cases providers serving children of minority race and children in low-income families have a higher rate of compliance with the nutrition and physical activity best practices studied. Additionally, the comparison of adherence to best practices from 2010 to 2016 suggests that, while there was an increase in mean adherence from 2010 to 2016, overall trends in adherence across child-, family- and provider-level characteristics have been consistent across time. Public health professionals should continue to advocate for opportunities for providers to learn how to best incorporate best practices within their setting (e.g., education and training opportunities) as well as for the development and adoption of systems-level changes (e.g., expansion of food assistance programs) to reduce barriers to adherence to best practices.

scholarly journals Physical Activity Opportunities Within the Schedule of Early Care and Education Centers

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Mazzucca ◽  
Derek Hales ◽  
Kelly R. Evenson ◽  
Alice Ammerman ◽  
Deborah F. Tate ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
Early Care
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