Physical activity policies at childcare centers and impact on children's physical activity and screen‐time behaviors

Abstract

This study evaluated the association between childcare center policies about physical activity (PA) and children's PA and screen‐time behaviors at 50 childcare centers. Data were collected in 2008–2009 using the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) tool. Directors reported center PA policies (written, unwritten but general practice, no policy). Preschool children's PA and screen‐time behaviors were assessed via 4‐day observation at each center. Time spent per day in outdoor play, teacher–led PA, sedentary activities, and screen‐time were 67.7±33.6, 16.5±11.3, 52.2±28.8, and 39.7±47.9 minutes, respectively. Children engaged in more minutes of outdoor play at centers with a written policy about amount of active playtime; and a written/unwritten policy about amount of time spent outdoors. Written policies about amount of active playtime and time spent outdoors were also associated with more minutes of sedentary activity. Children engaged in more minutes of teacher‐led PA at centers with written policy about amount of time in teacher‐led activities. Children spent fewer minutes watching television and using computers at centers with written policies about such behaviors and written policy about staff supervision of media use. Results suggest that written and unwritten policies may be effective at increasing PA, but may be insufficient to help children achieve recommended levels of PA.