TO BE able to grow up healthy, children under five years old should spend less time sitting watching screens, or restrained in strollers and seats, get better quality sleep, and have more time for active play.
This is according to new guidelines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), which says that achieving health for all means doing what is best for health right from the beginning of people’s lives.
“Early childhood is a period of rapid development and a time when family lifestyle patterns can be adapted to boost health gains.”
The new guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under five years of age were developed by a WHO panel of experts.
The panel assessed the effects on young children of inadequate sleep, and time spent sitting watching screens or restrained in chairs and prams.
According to Dr. Fiona Bull, programme manager for surveillance and population-based prevention of non-communicable diseases at the WHO, improving physical activity, reducing sedentary time, and ensuring quality sleep in young children will improve their physical, mental health and wellbeing, and help prevent childhood obesity and associated diseases later in life.
Failure to meet current physical activity recommendations is responsible for more than five million deaths globally each year across all age groups.
Currently, over 23 percent of adults and 80 percent of adolescents are not sufficiently physically active.
If healthy physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep habits are established early in life, this helps shape habits through childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood.
In this case, what we really need to do is to bring back play for children.
This is about making the shift from sedentary time to playtime, while protecting sleep.
The pattern of overall 24-hour activity is the key – replacing prolonged restrained or sedentary screen time with more active play, while making sure young children get enough good-quality sleep.
Quality sedentary time spent in interactive non-screen-based activities with a caregiver, such as reading, storytelling, singing and puzzles, is very important for child development.
The important interactions between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and adequate sleep time, and their impact on physical and mental health and wellbeing, were recognized by the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity, which called for clear guidance on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep in young children.
Applying the recommendations in these guidelines during the first five years of life will contribute to children’s motor and cognitive development and lifelong health.
For children three to four years of age, they should: spend at least 180 minutes in a variety of types of physical activities at any intensity, of which, at least 60 minutes is moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity, spread throughout the day, more is better.
Not be restrained for more than one hour at a time or sit for extended periods of time. Sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 hour, less is better.
Have 10 to 13 hours of good quality sleep, which may include a nap, with regular sleep and wake-up times. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
