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Sleep & RecoveryMost Children Don't Meet Guidelines for Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep

Most Children Don’t Meet Guidelines for Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep

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Global Study Finds Most Children Don’t Meet Guidelines for Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep

Importance of Movement Behaviors in Preschoolers

Appropriate levels of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep (collectively termed movement behaviors) are essential for the healthy growth and development of preschool-aged children.

Canadian and Global Guidelines

The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years (birth to four years) and the World Health Organization’s global guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep for children under five years of age were created to provide a framework for the healthy development of young children.

Alarming Findings

A recent study found that only 14% of preschoolers around the world meet movement behavior guideline recommendations. This is a cause for concern, as it puts preschoolers at risk of suboptimal health and development.

What Are the Guidelines?

A 24-hour day in the life of a preschooler meeting the guideline recommendations includes:

  • Three or more hours of total physical activity (including at least one hour of energetic play or activities that make them slightly out of breath)
  • One hour or less of screen time
  • 10-13 hours of good quality sleep

Global Levels

A new global study shows that most children around the world don’t meet these guidelines. The study included over 7,000 preschoolers from 33 countries, representing various World Bank income groups and geographical regions.

Movement Behavior Adherence

  • 49% of preschoolers met the physical activity recommendation
  • 42% met the screen time recommendation
  • 81% met the sleep recommendation

Gender and Regional Differences

  • 17% of boys met all guideline recommendations, compared to 13% of girls
  • The European and African regions had the highest movement behavior adherence, while the Americas region had the lowest
  • Low-income countries had the highest movement behavior adherence, while middle-income countries had the lowest

Which Regions Meet the Guidelines?

  • The African and European regions had the highest movement behavior adherence
  • The Americas region had the lowest movement behavior adherence
  • Low-income countries had the highest movement behavior adherence, while middle-income countries had the lowest

What Are the Implications?

  • Better screen time and sleep habits for girls protected their overall movement behavior adherence from being even worse
  • Low-income countries had the highest movement behavior adherence, which may be due to limited access to screens
  • Middle-income countries had the lowest movement behavior adherence, which may be due to a combination of limited access to physical activity opportunities and increased access to screens

Conclusion

Global movement behavior levels are unsatisfactory and foretell further global health challenges, inequalities, and distancing from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It’s time to get our little ones a little more active.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the guidelines for preschoolers?
A: The guidelines for preschoolers include at least three hours of physical activity, one hour or less of screen time, and 10-13 hours of good quality sleep.

Q: How many preschoolers meet the guidelines?
A: Only 14% of preschoolers around the world meet movement behavior guideline recommendations.

Q: What are the global movement behavior levels?
A: The global movement behavior levels are 49% for physical activity, 42% for screen time, and 81% for sleep.

Q: Are there any gender and regional differences?
A: Yes, there are gender and regional differences. Boys are more likely to meet the physical activity recommendation, and girls are more likely to meet the screen time and sleep recommendations. Low-income countries have the highest movement behavior adherence, while middle-income countries have the lowest.

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