Recommendations for promoting physical activity in the early years and levers to influence policy

Key recommendations for promoting physical activity Early years Planning and developing physical activity initiatives. Working with parents and carers. Increasing physical activity in early years settings.

Planning and developing physical activity initiatives Recommendation 1 Develop initiatives that target adults who interact with children in the early years. Recommendation 2 Consult with parents and carers to identify their needs and barriers.

Planning and developing physical activity initiatives Recommendation 3 Use an integrated approach to help target information at parents and carers. Recommendation 4 Use multi-component approaches when delivering information.

Working with parents and carers Recommendation 1 Provide parents and carers with information on the importance of physical activity and the adverse effects of too much sitting time. Recommendation 2 Educate parents and carers about what counts as physical activity. Recommendation 3 Create age inclusive promotional materials for education and activity sessions.

Increasing physical activity in early years settings Recommendation 1 Ensure appropriate levels of practitioner training and support are in place. Recommendation 2 Partner with external agencies to help practitioners develop their physical activity knowledge and expertise.

Increasing physical activity in early years settings Recommendation 3 Involve parents and carers both directly and indirectly in the activities to ensure they are also carried out in the home environment. Recommendation 4 Offer more frequent short periods of outdoor play. Recommendation 5 Provide more ‘activity friendly’ portable equipment.

Increasing physical activity in early years settings Recommendation 6 Include adult-led activities to improve motor skills. Recommendation 7 Use physical activity as a medium through which to integrate all areas of learning and development. Recommendation 8 Ensure a balance of free play and adult-led physical activity opportunities.

Policy levers Health risk of sedentary behaviour Sedentary behaviour in the early years is associated with overweight and obesity and lower cognitive development. Overweight and obesity Children who are overweight and obese in the early years are more likely to grow up to be overweight and obese as adults.

Policy levers Health and wellbeing benefits Physical activity is central to optimal growth and development in the under fives. Physical development Physical development is now recognised as being important to children’s overall development in the early years in all four UK early years curriculums.

Policy levers 4 Brain development Physically active play can contribute to the development of many important brain structures ‘In the early life period, interactions and experiences determine whether a child’s brain architecture provides a strong or weak foundation for their future health, wellbeing and development’ 18

Implications for policy makers Promote physical activity through new policy measures. Review early years curriculums and consider how to incorporate physical activity sessions. Ensure all families are able to use suitable play areas in the local communities.

Implications for practitioners Provide children with opportunities to learn new skills. Ensure children have regular access to equipment and the outdoor environment/space. Modify break times to encourage more focused sessions of outdoor play.

Implications for parents/carers Provide opportunities for children to be active daily, in a variety of outside environments. Be an active role model by participating in physical activity with and without their child. Give both boys and girls the same chance to try a variety of active play experiences.

References 1.Department of Health. Start Active, Stay Active – A report on physical activity for health from the four home countries’ Chief Medical Officers. London: Department of Health; Chaput J, Klingenberg L, Rosenkilde M, Gilbert J, Tremblay A, Sjodin A. Physical activity plays an important role in body weight regulation. J Obes. 2011;2011(Article ID ). 3.Monasta L, Batty GD, Cattaneo A, Lutje V, Ronfani L, van Lenthe FJ, et al. Early-life determinants of overweight and obesity: A review of systematic reviews. Obes Rev. 2010;11(10): OECD (2007). Understanding the brain: the birth of a learning science. OECD ISBN Rudolf M. Tackling obesity through the healthy child programme: a framework for action. National Obesity Observatory; Hinkley T, Crawford D, Salmon J, Okely AD, Hesketh K. Preschool Children and Physical Activity: A Review of Correlates. Am J Prev Med 2008 May;34(5): De Craemer M, De Decker E, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Vereecken C, Deforche, B, Manois Y, Cardon G, on behalf of the ToyBox-study group. Correlates of energy balance-related behaviours in preschool children: a systematic review. Obesity reviews 2012;13 Suppl 1: Okely AD, Salmon J, Trost SG, Hinkley T. Discussion paper for the development of physical activity recommendations for children under five years. Canberra, ACT, Australia; Australian Department of Health and Ageing, Government of Australia; Ridgers ND, Fairclough SJ, Stratton G. Variables associated with children's physical activity levels during recess: the A-CLASS project. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2010, 7:74.

References 10.Health and Social Care Information Centre. Health Survey for England Volume 1: Chapter 3 - Physical activity in children. Health and Social Care Information Centre: Leeds; Reilly JJ, Okely AD, Almond L et al. Making the Case for UK Physical Activity Guidelines for Early Years: Recommendations and draft summary statements based on the current evidence. Working paper The Health and Social Care Information Centre, Lifestyles Statistics. National Child Measurement Programme: England, 2012/13 school year. Leeds: NHS Information Centre; Okely AD, Salmon J, Trost SG, Hinkley T. Discussion paper for the development of physical activity recommendations for children under five years. Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing, Government of Australia; Timmons BW, Naylor P, Pfeiffer KA. Physical activity for preschool children: How much and how? Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 32, 122–134; Department for Children, Schools and Families. Statutory Framework for the Early Years foundation Stage - Setting the Standards for Learning, Development and Care for children from birth to five. Nottingham: Department for Children, Schools and Families; Northern Ireland Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment. Understanding the Foundation Stage. Belfast: Early Years Interboard Group; Wales Assembly Government. Framework for Children’s Learning for 3-7-year-olds in Wales. Cardiff: Wales Assembly Government; Allen G. Early Intervention: the Next Steps, An Independent Report to her Majesty’s Government. London: HM Government; 2011.