03/08/2010

Obesity Prevention

We've all seen the alarming statistics on the "obesity epidemic" among American children and we have all witnessed first hand the declining physical fitness of children in our care.  But can early childhood programs play a prevention role?  Indeed a recent study, Children's Activity and Movement in Preschools Study," suggests that there is much that programs can do!  The study of 3- to 5-year-olds in 24 diverse child care programs in South Carolina, reported in NIER (January 2010), found that...

• Children were engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity during only 3.4 percent of the preschool day!
• 4- and 5-year-olds were less physically active than 3-year-olds.
• Males were more active than females.
• Children in higher quality preschools were more likely to engage in physical activity than children in programs of lower quality.

Clearly, early childhood programs are currently part of the problem, not the solution.  There is significant need for early childhood programs to design their spaces and their activities to stimulate more vigorous physical activity.

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The Beginnings Workshop Book Curriculum: Art, Music, Movement, Drama contains insightful articles on music and movement and on gross motor development.  This book can be ordered individually or as part of the discounted Set of 8 Beginnings Workshop Books.

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