Child care may appear to be an energetic place, but children are not getting enough exercise on climbing structures, playgrounds and in classrooms because parents and teachers worry about their safety and school readiness, a new study reports today.

Previous research has shown children spend most of their time sedentary while in child care and only 7 percent to 8 percent of their time in vigorous activities, according to today’s report. In the latest study, researchers learned three main concerns limit their active play: worries about safety; tight budgets; and a “focus on academics.” 

Worry about school readiness is perhaps the most interesting and important finding of the study published today by Pediatrics. Teachers reported feeling pressure from state and local early learning standards and parents to get kids ready for kindergarten. 

Unless parents valued and prioritized outdoor time (and several participants felt many parents did not), children would not have opportunities to be physically active. Out of concern for potential injury, some parents requested their child not participate in outdoor activities, and “read a book instead.” – “Societal Values and Policies May Curtail Preschool Children’s Physical Activity in Child Care Centers.” 1/4/11. Pediatrics. 

This is a clear disconnect - there are established links between physical activity and cognitive development, often known as a key ingredient of school readiness – and an opportunity to educate parents, the study points out.

This is particularly concerning, because daily physical activity is not only essential for healthy weight maintenance, but also for practicing and learning fundamental gross motor skills and socio-emotional and cognitive skills. – Pediatrics. (Read the full report for footnotes to other research.)

Teachers and parents are also worried about children’s safety. Play structures, for example, have become less challenging and interesting to students thanks to stricter licensing rules, the study suggests.

With 75 percent of children ages three to five years now in child care, this is an important report. How to respond? Researchers suggest restoring a better balance between safety and exercise.

Given that childhood obesity is quickly eclipsing childhood injury as a leading cause of morbidity, and that time in child care may be the child’s only opportunity for outdoor play, licensing standards may need to explicitly promote physical activity in as much detail as is devoted to safety.

Check out the whole report. It’s a quick read for an academic article and full of interesting findings.