Improve Physical Activity in Early Childcare Centers

Increasing early childhood physical activity participation to encourage lifelong healthy practices

Physical activity in early childhood is essential to lifelong health. Research has shown that physical activity in early childhood leads to stronger academic performance¹, increased skeletal health², and better prevention of chronic diseases in adulthood³. We hope to increase moderate to vigorous physical activity in childcare settings to 90 minutes per 8 hour school day to encourage lifelong healthy practices and prevent future chronic diseases and complications!

Related Key Indicators

Goal: Increase the amount of physical activity in childcare settings to 90 minutes per 8 hour school day

Quick Facts:

1473 licensed childcare and family home centers in Miami-Dade County
Intervention goal: reach 50% of the licensed facilities over 3-year grant (737 sites)
Anticipated impact: 62,059 children

Objective 1.1: Increase the number of opportunities for children in child care settings to engage in daily physical activity.

Activities to Support Initiative:

Train providers to use education, such as math and literacy, to engage children in physical activity

Maintain and build sustainable physical activity programs in childcare settings

Offer technical support to childcare providers to increase physical activity

Evaluation Tool-Health Environment Rating Scale (HERS)

Data to be collected:

Number of times children are taken outside for active play per 8 hour school day

Time spent performing moderate to vigorous (running, climbing, jumping) outdoor activities

Child engagement in provider-led activities that promote movement both indoors and outdoors

Estimated screen time permitted for each child per week

Demographic information including: number of children in each facility, gender, and race/ethnicity

Objective 1.3: Increase the number of children and adolescents from families of low socioeconomic status participating in organized recreational activities.

Key Actions:

Completed

In progress

Not Started

	Finalize evaluation plan
	Obatin IRB approval/exemption
	Collect baseline data
	Analyze and disseminate baseline data
	Collect 6 month follow-up data
	Analyze and disseminate 6 month follow-up data
	Collect 12 month follow-up data
	Analyze and disseminate 12 month follow-up data
	Prepare and disseminate final report

View progress report for this objective

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Sources

1. Kantomaa MT, Stamatakis E, Kankaanapaa A, Kaakinen M, Rodriguez A, Taanila A, et al. Physical activity and obesity mediate the association between childhood motor function and adolescents’ academic achievement. PNAS, 2013; 110 (5) 1917-1922; published ahead of print December 31, 2012,doi:10.1073/pnas.1214574110.

2. Gunter KB, Almstedt HC, Janz KF. Physical activity in childhood may be the key to optimizing lifespan skeletal health. Exerc Sport Sci Rev, 2012; 40(1): 13-21. doi: 10.1097/JES.0b013e318236e5ee.

3. Campbell F, Conti G, Heckman JJ, Moon SH, Pinto R, Pungello E, & Pan Y. Early childhood investments substantially boost adult health. Science, 2014. 343(6178):1478-1485. doi: 1126/science.1248429