Recess Doesn't Always Mean Active Kids
By LITA BECK
Updated 11:22 AM EST, Fri, Mar 6, 2009
Preschoolers may be active, but they're not active enough in day care, a recent study shows.
According to a study published in the February edition of Pediatrics, 89 percent of children in day care are completely sedentary.
Playground time doesn't even help as much as it should.
Beth Cannon, of fitness program Stretch-N-Grow, said the study showed preschoolers spend 56 percent of their playground time sedentary.
Another study found that preschool-age children spend little time in "vigorous physical activity," the Pediatrics study stated.
The good news? The Pediatrics study also found the preschool environment affects how much kids move.
Preschools with less fixed playground equipment such as jungle gyms and slides, more portable equipment such as balls and tricycles, larger playgrounds and lower usage of electronic media such as televisions and computers also had significantly more active children.
It's something Preston Hollow United Methodist in Dallas, where moving is a priority, is taking to heart.
The Dallas day care has enrolled its children in Stretch-N-Grow. The children step and learn about their bodies for a minimum of 30 minutes a week.
"We believe that teaching children at a very young age, when you give them that strong foundation, they will remember it for the rest of their lives," Cannon said.
Stretch-N-Grow costs about $2 per child per session.
The National Association of Sports and Physical Education recommends preschoolers have 60 minutes of structured physical activity and another 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity every day.
First Published: Mar 4, 2009 8:57 PM EST
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