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The Department of Health has launched a campaign designed to increase the amount of physical activity undertaken by toddlers and young children to at least three hours a day.

 

As part of the campaign, an expert group of chief medical officers (CMOs) has created an infographic for children under five, urging parents, carers and practitioners to ensure children are active for the recommended number of hours, and providing a range of activity ideas.

 

“Currently, only 9% of children aged two to four meet the guidelines, and 84% are active for less than an hour a day,” Linda Baston-Pitt, member of the CMO group that developed the infographic, told Nursery World.

 

“Early years settings provide an ideal opportunity to help every child establish lifelong healthy habits to take with them into their school years. However, unless we have a greater focus on the importance of physical activity to ensure that every child has access to high quality physical opportunities from birth, we will fail our youngest citizens.”

 

Large chunks of time spent in buggies or highchairs are thought to contribute to the low rate of physical activity in under-fives, as well as an overall lack of understanding of their activity needs.

 

“For this age group, it is the amount and nature of activity that is important, not the intensity,” Linda said.

 

“Physical activity can be accumulated throughout a whole day and suits the intermittent nature of children’s play of this age.”

 

The childhood obesity strategy is due to be published in the coming months, and is expected to focus on both healthy eating and physical activity.

 

“We need to take positive action now, working together to build on and share the wealth of knowledge and good practice within the early years sector to ensure a joined up approach,” Linda added.

 

The infographic for under-fives can be .