Schools Not Giving Students Enough Of A Workout

Chances are your preschooler is not getting enough of a workout at school.

Seattle researchers found that youngsters are only getting an average of 48 minutes of exercise a day, when they should be getting around 2 hours.

"Children need daily opportunities for physical activity not only for optimal weight status, but because physical activity promotes numerous aspects of health, development and well-being," Dr. Pooja Tandon, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington in Seattle, in a statement . "Physical activity, which in this age occurs typically in the form of play, promotes cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and mental health and is associated with academic achievement."

For the study, researchers observed over 100 preschool children from 10 different childcare centers in the Seattle area. After four full days at each center, they categorized how much time was spent in active play, including both indoor and outdoor play. They also noted whether the play was led by the teacher.

Findings revealed that children spent over 33 minutes a day playing outside and logged just about 48 minutes per day overall in active play. Less than 10 minutes was actually involved in teacher-led physical activity, however. 

Furthermore, researchers found that 73 percent of their time playing was spent sedentary, with just around 13 percent of the time spent on light activity and 14 percent spent on moderate vigorous physical activity.

This can be particularly dangerous for little ones, however, who may get into a bad habit of inactivity starting young.

Health officials believe that it will require integrating a higher level of physical activity into both state and local areas, as well as better educating parents on the necessity of this issue.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Pediatrics.