Sedentary Activity Trends in Preschool Children

Of late, I have been reading a large amount of literature on the importance of play, outdoor learning and physical activity levels of children, but the findings referenced in the 2012 research study by Copeland, K. et al really made me stop and think hard: “Children spend most (70%–83%) of their time being sedentary in child care—even when excluding time spent in naps and meals—and only spend 2% to 3% of the time in vigorous activities”. What irreparable damage are we doing to our young children, setting up such patterns of behaviour for their lives ahead?

30 Reasons Why Free Play Benefits Child Development - Infographic from AAA State of Play

A great info-graphic by this commercial playground equipment company. You can see it clearer here: https://www.aaastateofplay.com/30-reasons-why-free-play-benefits-child-development/