WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4 (HealthDay News) -- For U.S. children in child care centers, physical activity and development may be negatively impacted by societal priorities of safety and school readiness and financial concerns, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in Pediatrics.
Kristen A. Copeland, M.D., from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and colleagues identified potential barriers to children's physical activity in U.S. child care centers. Forty-nine child care providers (55 percent African-American) from nine focus groups were assembled from 34 centers (inner-city, suburban, Head Start, and Montessori) in Cincinnati. Verbatim transcripts for themes were analyzed independently by three coders. Triangulation of methods was used to verify data and the interpretation of findings.
The investigators found that injury concerns, financial factors, and a focus on "academics" were the three main barriers to children's physical activity in child care. Playgrounds had become less physically challenging and interesting due to stricter licensing codes intended to reduce playground injuries. Some parents requested staff to restrict their children's playground participation out of concern for potential injury. Most child care centers had limited ability to install abundant playground equipment due to small operating margins. Parent and state mandate pressure to focus on academics at the expense of gross motor play was experienced by child care providers.
"Societal priorities for young children -- safety and school readiness -- may be hindering children's physical development," the authors write.
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