Preschoolers need more outdoor time at child care centers

The amount of outdoor time while at child care was the only factor that predicted the total amount of physical activity children obtained over the full 24-hour day. The Preschool Eating and Activity Study (PEAS) found that children in child care centers with at least 60 minutes of outdoor time were more active over 24 hours than children that did not get this time.

"These opportunities may be especially important for children who lack opportunities to be active at home," said Kristen Copeland, MD, a researcher in the Division of General and Community Pediatrics and senior author of the study. "That's why what happens in the child care centers has important and lasting effects for children's total daily levels of activity."

Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center studied 380 children ranging in age from 3 to 6-years-old enrolled at 30 different child care centers from November 2009 through January 2011.

Ninety percent of those centers reported scheduling two or more outdoor sessions daily, yet only 40 percent of children had taken part. Thirty-two percent had no time outdoors.

"We know daily physical activity is essential for children's growth and development. It improves cardiovascular and bone health and has been linked to improved mood, attention, and cognitive performance," said Dr. Copeland. "Yet, few preschoolers are meeting daily physical activity recommendations of 60 minutes or more per day."

The Preschool Eating and Activity Study (PEAS) is the first study to examine center influences on children's physical activity over the full 24-hour day and over a wide range of weather conditions.

"To ensure that children receive adequate opportunities to be active, centers that regularly face inclement conditions should make better use of indoor spaces and encourage teachers to take children outdoors briefly on cold days," said Dr. Copeland.