Under-fives need exercise every day: study

[WorkingClassMum]

Children under the age of five should exercise for at least three hours a day, new UK government guidelines suggest.
Babies should be taken swimming and play on "baby gym" mats while toddlers should walk for at least 15 minutes of routine journeys, such as to nursery, chief UK medical officers will say.
The exercise guidance, to be issued this week, targets under-fives for the first time and comes amid growing fears over childhood obesity.
"For children that are not yet walking, there is considerable evidence that letting children crawl, play or roll around on the floor is essential during early years," England's chief medical officer Sally Davies said.
"Play that allows under-fives to move about is critical and three hours a day is essential," she told The Sunday Times.
"I think there are parents who are not aware how important it is for their children to be physically active for a minimum of three hours.
"Other parents are very busy and may not see how important it is to get that prioritisation and balance right."
According to NHS figures, nearly a quarter of youngsters aged four and five are currently overweight or obese.
Experts predict that by 2050, this could apply to 63 per cent of children.
Professor Fiona Bull, chair of the scientific committee behind the guidelines and co-director of the British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity at Loughborough University, said parents should "turn the TV off".
The advice follows warnings earlier this month that England faces a liver disease "timebomb" because so many children are overweight.
Professor Martin Lombard, national clinical director for liver at the Department of Health, said a culture of overeating was putting the lives of more than 500,000 young people at risk.



Interesting.... though I think they should refer to Movement Through Play - I don't think they mean formal excercise classes

[Janesmum123]

It's common sense. My 13 month old is on the floor crawling playing, chasing the cat most of the day.

[Benji]

I still can't work out how to get DS who is 5 yo to sit still.

[bumMum]

I'm glad its being said. I really think the increase in childhood obesity is more about exercise or incedental movement than food. Not that food isn't part of it but when I was a kid I drank lemonade and used my parents change to buy lollies and I clearly remember treats and we had fish and chips for take away night. But we were so active. I know a LOT of people whose kids watch TV and play DS for more of the day than they are outside playing. And when they go out they are carried everywher or pushed in a pram. I really think littlies just aren't using their legs enough!

[Boobycino]

Yeah, normally I try to get to the park for a couple of hours a day, or like walk to daycare and to the shops.

Not for 'exercise' for physical health but for my sanity! Otherwise he gets bored & ratty. He's so much better behaved if he's had lots to do (unless he's overtired)

It's tricky without a proper yard though. We are hoping to 'swap' yards with the other duplex in our building because ours has a tree & a shed that takes up half of it, and it's just a tiny yard. If we swapped yards we could put a swing set in it <3

[jadee22]

For our sanity! I wonder how I would cope if I couldn't send my ds outside. I would rather spend money on outside play equipment than inside toys. We bought a todem tennis set ($12) n ds3 plays it constantly. We jump on the trampoline multiple times a day. I honesty couldn't think of anything worse than being cooped up inside.

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[SimplyMum]

I wonder how these kids DON'T get that much exercise! Even if a child slept for 12hours- there'd still be 9+ hours they'd have to be sitting down for not to achieve this. I think obesity has more to do with food than anything. My next door neighbours son is 8- he weighs up in the 90's (I weigh in the 50's, 5yo DS weighs in the teens still). He exercises quite well, but eats like a horse! And complete junk. They almost force it down his throat. They wont take no for an answer when I say no fizzy drink for DS- same goes for food. And they just keep on filling the bowls of chips and junk. There is no limit to the amount he eats- the bowl is empty- here let me refill it for you!

[Piffle]

I agree with Extraordinary. I don't see how MOST kids don't get this much exercise. I also believe food is the problem in most obesity.

[krystallxx]

I can't get my boys to stay still for about 16hrs of the day so I guess I meet the quota :) yay I got something right lol.

[shockinamillion]

I can hardly get mine to sit down for meals! They love to run and play. We do not get much outside play as we should, but we will as the weather warms up and this wind eases.