• Does your child's program include many opportunities for kids to move and engage in physical activity every day?



• Do children play outdoors every day--weather and air quality conditions permitting?



• Is play equipment age appropriate, safe?



• Do equipment and activities develop good coordination and help children use all their muscles?



• Does the caregiver limit the amount of time children spend in front of the TV, at the computer or using hand held games?



• Are lots of fruits and vegetables served?



• Is food served at the program low in fat, sugar and salt?



• Do caregivers model good health habits that promote fitness and healthy eating?

Want to know more?

• Physical activity and exercise

Young children naturally want to move their bodies!

Here are examples of some fun activities involving physical activity that you should see children doing (appropriate to their age) at your child care program:


• Dancing, jumping or skipping to music.
• Walking, running.
• Using playground equipment.
• Gardening.
• Raking leaves.
• Acting, putting on dramatic skits with role playing.
• Making a snowman.
• Bicycling wearing a helmet.
• Tumbling.
• Games - examples: ball games, duck-duck goose, Simon says.
• Pretending (being a giraffe in the African savanna).
• Helping with carrying items from one activity to another.

Note: Like home, child care is a place where a child's development is shaped by daily activities, activities that set the stage for life. Take a look at your own activity habits to see if you're setting a good example.



• Promoting Healthy Weight

Along with lots of physical activity, do you observe:


• Children being offered a variety of nutritious food choices during meal and snack times?



• Children not "grazing " throughout the day - snacks (including fresh fruit and vegetables) are at planned and at predictable times?



• The availability of fresh, clean water anytime a child is thirsty? Juice is offered only at specific meals and snacks but not throughout the day.



• Allowing children to leave food on their plate if they are full?



• Food never being used as a reward or punishment?



• Meal times that are enjoyable with lots of social interaction among the children and the caregiver? (No sitting in front of the TV while eating)



• Encouraging children to eat slowly, chewing every bite thoroughly?



• Limiting time in front of the TV, at the computer or playing hand held games?



• Taking advantage of educational "moments" to promote healthy foods and fun activities that promote physical exercise?

See also Meals and Snacks Section and Playground Safety Section

How to help your caregiver with this topic

• Make sure your child has the clothing, equipment and funds needed for activities your caregiver has planned.



• If providing them is problematic for you, say so well in advance, so that your caregiver can make other arrangements.



• Don't complain if your child gets muddy or sweaty - active bodies and clothes get dirty!


• Ask the children's librarian at your public library for suggestions of age appropriate music and videos that encourage kids and grown ups to have fun while moving.



• Share them with your caregiver and if you find a selection that everyone likes, consider buying a copy for your caregiver.


• Scan garage and yard sales and thrift stores for toys, games and equipment that promote movement.



• Thoroughly clean them, and give them to your child care program.



• Be sure to check the Consumer Product Safety Commission's website (http://www.cpsc.gov) to make sure none of the equipment or toys have been recalled for safety concerns.


• Don't get upset over small bumps and scratches - active kids will have small scrapes.



• Consider giving your caregiver an occasional healthy treat such as a bag of fresh fruit or fresh vegetables.



• If your caregiver is overweight:



• Be sensitive to your caregiver's culture and background. People whose families or ancestors have experienced hunger or famine may well consider plumpness to be a sign of health and prosperity.

Additional Resources

Research


Some eye opening statistics:


• In the past 10 years, adult obesity rates in America have increased by more than 60%!


• 1 in 4 American children is at risk for being overweight.


• More than 60% of young Americans eat too much fat.


Sources:

Overweight Prevalence
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/overwt.htm

Prevalence of Overweight Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 2003-2004
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/overweight/overwght_child_03.htm

Prevalence of Overweight Infants and Children less than 2 years of age: United States, 2003-2004
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/overweight/overwght_child_under02.htm



TV contributes to childhood obesity:


• Watching TV requires no energy above resting metabolic rates.


• TV reduces the time the child spends in energetic activities, such as running and playing


• The foods most heavily advertised on TV are high in calories: candy bars, sugared cereals, fast food, etc.


• The slim figures of TV stars may indirectly suggest to children that high calorie food and drinks have little effect on weight.


• TV characters are typically shown snacking, not sitting down for well-balanced meals.


Source: Dietz WH, Gortmaker S. Do we fatten our children at the television set? Obesity and television viewing in children and adolescents. Pediatrics 1985; 75:807-812.


Note: An exception to the above would be having children dance and move along with a fitness video or a program designed to get children moving.

Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/elec_prods/subject/nhanes3.htm



Resources


American Academy of Pediatrics Overweight and Obesity Resources
http://www.aap.org/obesity/

Bright Futures: Physical Activity
http://www.brightfutures.org/physicalactivity/about.htm

Children's Activity Pyramid - University of Missouri
(includes types of activities and how often)
http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/foodnut/n00386.htm

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005
http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/

FitSource - Physical Activity and Nutrition in Child Care Settings:
A Web Directory for Providers (Child Care Bureau)
http://fitsource.nccic.acf.hhs.gov/fitsource/

Food Pyramid (now called MyPyramid)
http://www.mypyramid.gov/



Initiatives


Healthy People 2010
http://www.healthypeople.gov./LHI/lhiwhat.htm



Based on Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards: Guidelines for Out-of-Home Child Care Programs, 2nd Edition, 2002, (American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, and National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care)

STANDARD 2.001 WRITTEN DAILY ACTIVITY PLAN
STANDARD 2.009 PLAYING OUTDOORS
STANDARD 2.012 SPACE AND ACTIVITY TO SUPPORT LEARNING OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS
STANDARD 2.017 EXPRESSIVE ACTIVITIES FOR 3- TO 5-YEAR OLDS
STANDARD 2.061 HEALTH EDUCATION TOPICS FOR STAFF AND CHILDREN
STANDARD 2.067 PARENT EDUCATION PLAN
STANDARD 4.005 JUICE
STANDARD 4.006 AVAILABILITY OF DRINKING WATER
STANDARD 4.023 PORTIONS FOR TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS
STANDARD 4.031 SOCIALIZATION DURING MEALS
STANDARD 4.032 PARTICIPATION OF OLDER CHILDREN AND STAFF IN MEALTIME ACTIVITIES
STANDARD 4.039 PROHIBITED USES OF FOOD
STANDARD 5.162 SIZE AND LOCATION OF OUTDOOR PLAY AREA
STANDARD 5.163 SIZE AND REQUIREMENTS OF INDOOR PLAY AREA
APPENDIX Q CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM MEAL PATTERN REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILDREN AGES 1 THROUGH 12 YEARS