It's unheard of, right? Little kids run around, refuse to stay put, won't take their naps. But a study reveals that, at least at 10 Seattle day care centers, 3- to 5-year-olds partake in minimal physical activity. The Seattle Times reports that a research team led by Dr. Pooja Tandon of the UW recorded the kids' movement throughout the day with accelerometers. They found that active playtime was limited to an average of 48 minutes a day, less than the one to two hours recommended by national health and childcare organizations.
A local leader in improving child care told Times health reporter JoNel Aleccia that there are practical workload issues involved in getting children ready to go outside and monitoring them. Parents understand those issues, too.
