Frustrated parents who don’t understand why their little ones didn’t get time outside at day care yet again may have a few answers, thanks to a study of outdoor physical activity at childcare facilities. “[The excuses are] things we never expected, from flip-flops, mulch near the playground, children who come to childcare without a coat on chilly days, to teachers talking or texting on cell phones while they were supposed to be supervising the children,” writes Dr. Kristen Copeland, lead author of a study conducted by researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
The study outlines a number of reasons daycare students aren’t getting out when they should:
Teachers report pressure from parents who are more concerned with academics than physical and socio-emotional skills that are honed on the playground.
Mulch seems to be a huge concern – kids eat it, throw it and get it caught in their shoes.
And, at some centers, if one child shows up without proper outdoor attire, the whole group stays inside.
Laura Smykal, assistant director of Primrose School of Forest Creek in Plano, says red ozone days are the only reason the center keeps kids inside at playtime. She recommends closed-toe, closed-heel tennis shoes for everyday wear and cautions parents against sending kids to day care in Crocs, which can make running difficult for children.
