Attributes of Child Care Centers and Outdoor Play Areas Associated With Preschoolers’ Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior

2010 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takemi Sugiyama ◽  
Anthony D. Okely ◽  
Jane M. Masters ◽  
Gary T. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Child Care ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Child Care Centers

scholarly journals Two Approaches to Increase Physical Activity for Preschool Children in Child Care Centers: A Matched-Pair Cluster-Randomized Trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (20) ◽  
pp. 4020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pooja S. Tandon ◽  
Katherine L. Downing ◽  
Brian E. Saelens ◽  
Dimitri A. Christakis
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Child Care ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Matched Pair ◽  
Child Care Centers ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Active Play ◽  
Cluster Randomized

Early childhood education settings are critical for promoting physical activity (PA) but intervention effects are often small. The aim of this study was to develop, test, and compare two approaches to increasing physical activity among preschoolers at child care centers: one focused on a teacher-led PA curriculum (Active Play!) and the other on increasing outdoor child-initiated free play time (Outdoor Play!). We conducted a matched-pair cluster-randomized study in 10 centers in and around Seattle, WA, USA (n = 97 children, mean age 4.6). Pre- and post-intervention data were collected from observations and accelerometers. At pre-intervention, 19% of Active Play! and 25% of Outdoor Play! children achieved >120 min/day of PA during child care. The total opportunity for PA increased in both interventions (Active Play! = 11 min/day; Outdoor Play! = 14 min/day), with the largest increase in outdoor child-initiated free playtime (Active Play! = 19 min/day; Outdoor Play! = 24 min/day). No changes in sedentary time, light or moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) were observed in either intervention and there was no difference between interventions in the percentage of children attaining more than 120 min/day of PA. A small (<3 min/day) relative increase in teacher-led outdoor activity was observed in the Active Play! intervention. Both intervention strategies led to an increase in active play opportunities, predominantly outdoors, but neither was able to substantially increase the intensity and/or duration of children’s PA. Future studies are needed to better understand and inform sustainable approaches to increase PA in early learning settings.

A Review of State Regulations to Promote Physical Activity and Safety on Playgrounds in Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Homes

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (s1) ◽  
pp. S108-S119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angie L.I. Cradock ◽  
Emily M. O'Donnell ◽  
Sara E. Benjamin ◽  
Elizabeth Walker ◽  
Meghan Slining
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Child Care ◽  
National Health ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Family Child Care ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
State Regulations ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Family Child Care Homes

Background:As interventions increasingly emphasize early child care settings, it is necessary to understand the state regulatory context that provides guidelines for outdoor physical activity and safety and sets standards for child care environments.Methods:Researchers reviewed regulations for child care facilities for 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. We compared state regulations with national standards for 17 physical activity- and safety-related items for outdoor playground settings outlined in Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards: Guidelines for Out-of-Home Child Care Programs (CFOC). State regulations were coded as fully, partially or not addressing the CFOC standard and state-level summary scores were calculated.Results:On average, state regulations fully addressed one-third of 17 CFOC standards in regulations for centers (34%) and family child care homes (27%). Data suggest insufficient attention to outdoor play area proximity and size, equipment height, surfacing, and inspections.Conclusions:Considerable variation exists among state regulations related to physical activity promotion and injury prevention within outdoor play areas. Many states' regulations do not comply with published national health and safety standards. Enhancing regulations is one component of a policy approach to promoting safe, physically active child care settings.

scholarly journals Societal Values and Policies May Curtail Preschool Children's Physical Activity in Child Care Centers

PEDIATRICS ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 129 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Copeland ◽  
S. N. Sherman ◽  
C. A. Kendeigh ◽  
H. J. Kalkwarf ◽  
B. E. Saelens
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Child Care ◽  
Child Care Centers ◽  
Societal Values ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity
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