10 Startling Facts from the Active Healthy Kids Early Years Report Card

In a 2008 UNICEF study assessing early childhood education and care in economically advanced countries, Canada ranked at the bottom of 25 countries with a key factor reported to be “lack of substantial public investment in education until children reach the age of five.”

While international guidelines vary, the consensus is that all children aged 1–5 years should participate in at least two hours of physical activity every day, accumulated over many sessions and as part of play, games, transportation and recreation.

The early years are a critical period for growth and development. Parents, health professionals, educators and caregivers must work together to build the foundation needed to sustain physical activity throughout life. There may be an assumption that physical activity occurs naturally at a young age and doesn’t require attention or study. We need to know more about the relationships between physical activity and healthy early development.

What we do know about the physical activity and lifestyle patterns in the early years is not promising:

• The National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) indicates that only 36% of 2–3-year-olds and 44% of 4–5-year olds regularly engage in unorganized sport and physical activity each week.
• A survey of Edmonton parents indicates that only 42% of preschoolers get 90 minutes of physical activity per day.
• In childcare centre settings, one US study shows that 89% of children’s time is spent being sedentary.

Whatever the setting, children under five require adequate unstructured play and time outdoors for physical, cognitive and emotional development.

• In 1971, the average age at which children began to watch TV was 4 years; today, it is 5 months.
• More than 90% of kids begin watching TV before the age of two, despite recommendations that screen time should be zero for children under two, and limited to 1 hour for kids 2–5.
• The NLSCY indicates that 27% of those aged 2–3 and 22% of those aged 4–5 are watching more than 2 hours of TV per day.

Overweight and obesity in Canadians under six is rising. Two regional reports tell us the prevalence of obesity in those aged 2–5 years is between 8–11%. National data show that 15.2% of 2–5-year olds are overweight and 6.3% are obese.
This reality should be high on public health agendas given that:

• Obesity in infancy persists through the preschool years.
• Children who become obese before the age of six are likely to be obese later in childhood.
• Obese children have a 25–50% increased risk of being obese as adults.
• It is estimated that overweight 2-5-year olds are four times as likely to be overweight as adults.

Recommendations for increasing physical activity in the early years:
Policy-makers
Invest in active living for children under five; ensure childcare policies mandate daily physical activity and adequately resource staff; target caregivers with incentives and messaging to get kids active and be active with them.

Public Health & Healthcare Professionals
Promote physical activity, active play, and reduced screen time as part of early years support programs for families.

Parents
Keep TVs out of bedrooms, institute screen time limits, and create opportunities for active outdoor play for kids and as a family.

Early Childhood Educators & Schools
Train and resource staff; offer a minimum of 90 minutes of daily active play time, indoors and outdoors, structured and unstructured.

Complete references are available in the long form Report Card at www.activehealthykids.ca