Wide Variability in Physical Activity Environments and Weather-Related Outdoor Play Policies in Child Care Centers Within a Single County of Ohio

Societal Values and Policies May Curtail Preschool Children’s Physical Activity in Child Care Centers

“…This work was undertaken to generate hypotheses that could be tested in future quantitative studies to identify important barriers to children' s physical activity in child care and inform future policy-, facility-, or teacher-related interventions to increase children' s physical activity in child care. We have previously reported some of the barriers identified in this work related to children' s clothing, 41 inadequate facilities, 39 weather-related policies, 39 and teachers' attitudes and behaviors. 42 This article presents additional findings, particularly regarding the impact of parents' values and input that affects children' s center-based activity, highlighting those that are particularly relevant to pediatric clinicians, policy makers, and applied-pediatric researchers.…”

“…36 Children obtain vastly different amounts of physical activity in child care among states, 37,38 which may in part be due to weather-related differences across regions. 39 Surprisingly, however, children's physical activity levels are highly variable among child care centers even within the same geographic region, and this variability is explained primarily (27%-47%) 9,10,40 by individual center characteristics, rather than by child characteristics (3%-10%). 9,10 The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand why children' s physical activity may vary among child care centers, and to identify barriers that might prevent children from obtaining adequate amounts of physical activity while in centers.…”

Physical Activity–Related and Weather-Related Practices of Child Care Centers from 2 States

“…Thus, it makes sense that fewer NC centers would meet this more stringent standard. In addition, in our sample, 75% of centers allowed their children to go outside when the playground was wet, while Copeland found only 44% (Copeland et al, 2011). 27 One of the most striking differences, however, was related to national accreditation.…”

“…In addition, in our sample, 75% of centers allowed their children to go outside when the playground was wet, while Copeland found only 44% (Copeland et al, 2011). 27 One of the most striking differences, however, was related to national accreditation. Copeland et al 27 found that NAEYC accreditation was associated with higher PA environment scores.…”

“…We also included 3 weather-related questions that could be a potential barrier to outdoor active play: if children were allowed outside in light rain; if children were allowed outside in snow; and if children were allowed outside when the playground was wet, used previously in a survey of Ohio child care centers. 27 Additionally, we asked directors to report the average amount of time children spent outside on a given day, in categories (0-20 minutes; 21-30 minutes; 31-60 minutes; 61-90 minutes; 91-120 minutes; > 120 minutes). The survey contained 19 demographic questions and 9 PArelated questions.…”