261353 A Community Model to Improve Physical Activity in Young Children

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Hany Abdallah , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Laura Caldwell , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Conor Carpenter , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Katherine Scovner , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Timothy Snow , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Karan Verma , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Sarah Adams-Kollitz , Burlington Children's Space, Burlington, VT
Janice Gallant, MD , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Thomas V. Delaney, PhD , Dept. of Pediatrics, UVM College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Jan K. Carney, MD MPH , Department of Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Introduction: Prevalence of overweight and obese children aged 2-5 in the United States is high and increasing. Despite national guidelines for physical activity in preschool-aged children, national policy is lacking. Objective: To assess physical activity in preschool-aged children attending Burlington Children's Space (BCS), an accredited program offering early care and education for about 25 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old, serving all community populations. Programming is based on interests of children and culture of the local community, including promoting enjoyment of physical activity. Methods: BCS parents' opinions about physical activity were assessed using questionnaires. BCS Preschool teachers were asked to assess activity in students in one-week periods both before and after attending a workshop about physical activity in preschool-aged children. Results: Children at BCS received an average of 136.5 min/day and 148 min/day of exercise in the first and second surveyed weeks, respectively. Parents of BCS children reported that they were satisfied with the level physical activity at school. Winter weather was not found to limit children's physical activity. Conclusions: BCS offers a model for providing a high level of physical activity for children. For other preschools, aspects of the BCS model that could be implemented include: 1) creating a culture that promotes enjoyment of physical activity at the childcare center, 2) devoting resources to ongoing education of childcare center staff, 3) finding creative ways to incorporate physical activity into preschool curriculums. This approach could be used in other geographic locations to increase physical activity in young children.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Chronic disease management and prevention
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the environment of a child care center that promotes physical activity 2. Formulate strategies to involve parents in levels of physical activity at the child care 3. Describe approaches used to promote conversations between parents of young childhre and their primary care provider 3.

Keywords: Child Care, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I participated in the design, implementation, analysis and interpretation, writing, and presentation of this project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4367.0: Maternal and Child Health Poster Session