Children play harder and longer when their child-care centers provide portable play equipment such as balls and jump ropes, more opportunities for active play and physical activity training and education for staff and students, according to researchers at the UNC School of Public Health.
“Childhood obesity is an epidemic that threatens the future health of our nation,†said Dianne Ward, a co-author of the study. “We know that about 57 percent of all 3-to-5-year-olds in the United States attend child-care centers, so it’s important to understand what factors will encourage them to be more active, and, hopefully, less likely to become obese.â€
Researchers assessed the physical and social environmental factors thought to influence healthy weight at 20 child-care centers across North Carolina.
Stationary equipment such as climbing structures, swings and balance beams were associated with lower intensity physical activity, researchers said, but are beneficial to other aspects of child development such as motor and social skills.
“Child-care providers can play a huge role in encouraging children to be active and developing habits and preferences that will help them control their weight throughout their lives,†Ward said.
“The easiest way to increase physical activity may be as simple as providing more active play time and relatively inexpensive toys, like balls and jump ropes,†she said. “Our data don’t go this far, but parents buying toys and games for children this time of year might consider stocking up on jump ropes and hoola hoops. And for their own health, they should get outside with their children and run, jump and play, too.â€
—UNC News Services