Barriers to Participation in Physical Activity Within the Early Years - Literature review Example

Barriers to Participation in Physical Activity within The Early Years (3-7 Years). Study on Physical Activity in the Early Years (3-7) Years. The health benefits that accrue from an active physical lifestyle in the early life of a child are undisputed. Physical activity is a vital component in a child as it promotes physical, psychosocial and psychological development. Physical development results due to stronger skeletal and muscular system. Psychological and psychosocial development is manifested through, increase in focus and concentration especially in school, improvement of one’s social skills, and lower levels of anxiety and stress (Strong et al. 2005). Establishment of healthy routines in the early years is crucial for long-lasting effects. Craigg and Cameron (2006) assert that kids who have a healthy physical lifestyle in their early years tend to carry the same routines for their entire life. Research shows that some diseases that show up in adulthood can indeed be linked to unhealthy lifestyle in the earlier years. Diseases such as diabetes and obesity have been associated with lack of physical activity in the earlier years of growth. The Institute of medicine (2004) estimates that there are more than 9million overweight children, 4.5million of whom are obese. Obesity in children is majorly associated with poor eating habits and lack of physical activity. Parents play a great role in nurturing physical activities in a child’s life since children spend more time at home during this face of their life. It is important for parents to recognize the need for their kids to participate in physical activities and they should strive to nurture this in them. Play activities should therefore be incorporated to kids in their early years; parents need to constantly talk on the need and importance of physical health to their kids. Research by the American Alliance for Health (2002) suggests that kids should be exposed to at least 60 minutes each of both structured and unstructured play activities each day. Structured activities mainly involve the planned activities involving instructions with clear guidelines while unstructured activities are spontaneous, arising when the child is exploring their surroundings. With the ever increasing competitive world, and the economic hardships that have emerged; many parents have been forced work outside their homes, hence preferring to enroll their kids to day-cares. These centers pose great avenues for the implementation of physical health and activities (Burdettee &Whitaker 2005b ).Teachers in day-care are in unique positions to encourage healthy physical life among the kids since they tend to spend most of the time with them. Finn et al,(2002) recommends the in cooperation of activity friendly equipment in outdoor play programs, as it tends to eliminate sedentary behavior and increases focus among the kids. The age bracket of (3-7) years is the age where most kids start attending pre-school. The school curriculum at this stage should therefore offer a balance between curricular and co-curricular activities. Teachers should be extensively trained in physical education and also provided with the necessary support to foster physical education in children. The school managements should ensure that structures needed in promotion of physical activity are put in place in the institutions (Ministry of education (Ontario) 2006). It should be noted, however, that despite the numerous campaigns emphasizing on the need for an active physical lifestyle in the early years of kids, a significant proportion of children do not participate in sufficient amount of physical activities.Telford et al (2005) in their research found out that male preschoolers tend to frequently engage in physical activities as compared to female preschoolers. The female kids avoided much rigorous activities and opted to less involving activities like dancing. One of the major barriers to kids’ participation in physical activities is the family. Ferreira (2007) emphasizes on the need of parents being role models to their children. A physically active parent will raise a physically active child. This is because children tend to imitate what their parents do. Participation in their child’s play time will boost their morale. Lack of play facilities also hinders kids participation in physical activities (Beets 2010).Parents should strive to provide play facilities to their kids; buying sport equipment and reserving adequate space for play is important. The growth of information technology and the emergence of video games, iPods, mobile phones and numerous television channels have posed a serious threat to kid’s involvement in physical activities. Children would rather spend their time playing games and watching television than have play time. Leblanc (2012) associates high levels of television viewing to reduced levels of socialization skills. There is need for parents to regulate the time spent on these gargets, because children who spend more time watching television are at a high risk of being obese (Warburton, Nicol, & Bredin, 2006). Gender stereotyping is also one major hindrance to participation in physical activities among kids. (Mulvihill et al 2000a). The perception that boys are more active than girls and therefore should be given extra playtime, or that some sports are not appropriate for girls than they are to boys should be got rid of. Overemphasis on the need of attaining good grades in school has made children opt to concentrate more on classwork. Children are therefore left with little or no time to engage in physical activity. Allensworth(1997) emphasizes that there is a relation between academic performance and the level of physical education. Kids who constantly take part in physical activities have been seen to perform better in school as they have higher levels of focus and concentration, The lack of active mobility has also contributed to the minimal physical activities among the kids. Most parents fear for the security of their kids hence do not allow them to walk to the nearest shop or cycle around the neighborhood at will. Some parents also disapprove of their kids playing outside with others for fear of bullying or accidents occurring. Kids end up being confined in the house and whenever there’s need of visiting other locations, parents opt to drive their kids instead of taking a walk (Davis and Jones 1996). It is clear that both parents and teachers are involved in the early years of a child’s life, There is need of having an integrated approach towards nourishing the physical health of children. All the stakeholders that is parents, siblings, teachers, and the school management should be engaged in ensuring optimal play activity is achieved. Schools can enhance parent involvement, by giving activity based homework to the kids and also constantly setting up parent-child play activity programs at school. Both parents and teachers should ensure that they create physical and social environments that encourage physical activity. Since not every parent can afford to have the play facilities available at the schools, it would be prudent if the schools management allowed access to their facilities during school holidays and weekends(CDC,1997). References Telford, A., Salmon, J., Timperio, A., & Crawford, D. (2005). Examining physical activity among 5- to 6- and 10- to 12-year-old children: The Children’s Leisure Activities study. Pediatric Exercise Science, 17, pp. 266–280. Ministry of Education (Ontario).(2006) The Kindergarten Program; Retrieved from< http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/ curriculum/elementary/kindercurrb.pdf.>[ Accessed November 1, 2007]. Burdette, H. L., & Whitaker, R. C. (2005b). Resurrecting free play in young children: Looking beyond fitness and fatness to attention, affiliation, and affect. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 159, pp. 46–50. American Alliance for Health PE, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD),(2002): NASPE releases first ever physical activity guidelines for infants and toddlers. Illinois J Health Pe Rec Dance, 50: pp.31–32. Cragg, S.,& Cameron, C. (2006). Physical activity of Canadian youth: An analysis of 2002 health behaviour in school-aged children data. Ottawa Ontario: Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute. Finn, K., Johannsen, N., & Specker, B. (2002). Factors associated with physical activity in preschool children. Journal of Pediatrics, 140, pp. 81–85. Strong, W. B., Malina, R. M., Blimkie, C. J., Daniels, S. R., Dishman, R. K., Gutin, B., et al. (2005). Evidence-based physical activity for school-aged youth: Journal of Pediatrics, 146, pp.732–737. Feirreira.,I,Van der Horst., K,Wendel-Vos W.,Kremers S.,Van Lerthe .,F.,Brug J.(2007) Environmental correlates of physically active youth-a review and update.Obese Rev ;8:129-54 Beets., M.W,Cardinal, B.J, Aderman, B.L.(2010).Parental social support and physical activity-related behaviors of youth:a review. Health Educ Behav.;37:pp. 621-644 Leblanc AG, Spence JC, Carson V, Connor Gorber S, Dillman C, Janssen I, et al (2012): Systematic review of sedentary behavior and health indicators in the early years (aged 0–4 years). Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 37:pp. 753–772. Childhood Obesity in United States: facts and figures. Institute of Medicine Website.. Availableat:[Accessed September 2004] Davis, A,, & Jones, L. (1996) Environmental Constraints on Health: Listening to Children’s Views. Health Education Journal, 55: pp. 363-374. Mulvihill,C., Rivers, K., Aggleton, P., (2000) Physical Activity ‘at our time’ Qualitative research among young people aged 5 to15 years and parents in London, UK: Health Education Authority.. Allensworth,D.,Lawson.,E.,Nicholson,L.,&Wyche,J(Eds.).(1997).Schools And Health:Our Nations Investment.Washington,DC:National Academy Press. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),(1997).Guidelines for School health programs to promote lifelong physical activity among young people. Morbidity and Mortality weekly reports,46(No.RR-6),pp.1-36. Warburton, D. E., Nicol, C.W., & Bredin, S. S. (2006). Health benefits of physical activity: The evidence. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 174, pp. 801–809. Read More