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Relationship between child care centers' compliance with physical activity regulations and children's physical
Robert L Stephens1, Ye Xu2, Catherine A Lesesne2
1ICF International, Three Corporate Square, Suite 370, Atlanta, GA 30329. Telephone: 404-321-3211.
Insights
Preschoolers in child care centers with at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity showed higher moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Centers with outdoor play spaces also promoted more MVPA, highlighting the importance of activity duration and environment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health Policy
- Child Development
Background:
- Child care centers significantly influence preschoolers' physical activity levels.
- Policies and environmental characteristics of centers impact children's engagement in physical activity.
- Overweight and obesity are concerns for preschoolers, with physical activity being a protective factor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if New York City group child care centers compliant with physical activity regulations increase children's activity levels.
- To compare physical activity in children attending compliant versus non-compliant centers.
Main Methods:
- 1,352 preschoolers (mean age 3.39 years) from 110 centers in low-income neighborhoods participated.
- Anthropometric data collected; accelerometers measured physical activity duration and intensity.
- Multilevel generalized linear regression analyzed center and child factors affecting physical activity.
Main Results:
- Center compliance with 60 minutes of daily physical activity was linked to higher moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
- Compliance with 30 minutes of structured activity was not associated with increased MVPA.
- Children in centers with outdoor play spaces engaged in more MVPA.
- Boys and non-Hispanic Black children showed higher MVPA levels than girls and Hispanic children, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Increasing children's MVPA in child care requires consideration of both activity duration and type.
- Further research is needed on the impact of play space availability on physical activity opportunities.
Introduction:
Physical activity may protect against overweight and obesity among preschoolers, and the policies and characteristics of group child care centers influence the physical activity levels of children who attend them. We examined whether children in New York City group child care centers that are compliant with the city's regulations on child physical activity engage in more activity than children in centers who do not comply.
Methods:
A sample of 1,352 children (mean age, 3.39 years) served by 110 group child care centers in low-income neighborhoods participated. Children's anthropometric data were collected and accelerometers were used to measure duration and intensity of physical activity. Multilevel generalized linear regression modeling techniques were used to assess the effect of center- and child-level factors on child-level physical activity.
Results:
Centers' compliance with the regulation of obtaining at least 60 minutes of total physical activity per day was positively associated with children's levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA); compliance with the regulation of obtaining at least 30 minutes of structured activity was not associated with increased levels of MVPA. Children in centers with a dedicated outdoor play space available also spent more time in MVPA. Boys spent more time in MVPA than girls, and non-Hispanic black children spent more time in MVPA than Hispanic children.
Conclusion:
To increase children's level of MVPA in child care, both time and type of activity should be considered. Further examination of the role of play space availability and its effect on opportunities for engaging in physical activity is needed.
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