Physical Activity Recommendations for Early Childhood: An International Analysis of Ten Different Countries’ Current National Physical Activity Policies and Practices for those under the Age of 5
Year: 2019
Type: other
Abstract: During the last two decades there have been growing interests on recommendations for children’s physical\nactivity. The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the first global international recommendations for\nchildren in 2010, focusing on children and youth aged 5-17 year olds. The recommendations were based on the\ndose-response relationship between the frequency, duration, intensity, type and amount of physical activity needed\nfor prevention of non-communicable diseases. There remains however, at time of writing, (2019) a gap in the\nrecommendations, as the WHO did not offer global recommendations for those children under the age of 5 (early\nyears).\nAn international policy and practice analysis, (not previously undertaken), of ten sample countries, was completed\nof current national physical activity practices. Also an international comparison of early years’ education settings\nwere examined, specifically for those under the age of 5, to investigate current curricula, as well as the\nqualifications, knowledge and understanding of those supporting children’s learning in different cultural contexts.\nThe sample of ten countries (Belgium, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, United\nKingdom and United States of America) questioned whether the global daily physical activity recommendations\n(WHO, 2010) are costumed and used for to the early years’ age group on a national level or if they need to be\nadjusted.\nThe analysis revealed that eight countries have developed their own national recommendations for children below\nthe age of 5, while only two countries do not have any early years’ specific physical activity recommendations.\nNational authorities seem to be the most common executive sources behind the recommendations. The content of\nphysical activity for children under the age of 5, mostly included the total amount and intensity of physical activity.\nThe total daily amount of physical activity in these ten countries varies between 60 minutes moderate to vigorous\nintensity physical activity up to 180 min total light to moderate intensity physical activity and for some countries\nthe daily recommendations are only from age 1 year, not between birth and 1 year, this age range remains\nunsupported. \nThe conclusions from the analysis of national recommendations, underlined the need to see the global\nrecommendations be developed for the younger age group, to support all countries. It is proposed a need for\nuniversally new recommendations to go beyond just physical activity intensity levels and to consider how young\nchildren’s development can be supported in a versatile way by physically active play. Also age specific\nrecommendations are offered for appropriate and purposeful physical activity to support early years and school\naged children’s overall development. The findings also suggest educational recommendations for staff members\nof early childhood education and care settings to know appropriate and age specific recommendations to ensure\nthey are able to support young children to reach the national and global recommendations. Research\nrecommendations are also proposed.
Authors: Kristy Howells, Arja Sääkslahti
Institutions: Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Jyväskylä
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2981157071