Physical Education · Ch 2 — Children and Women in Sports
Recommendations for Children Under 5 Years of Age
Recommendations for Children Under 5 Years of Age
2.1.1 Recommendations for Children Under 5 Years of Age
Early childhood is a period of very rapid development, and it is also the time when family habits around movement, screens and sleep are first set. If children under five are to grow up healthy, they need to spend less time sitting — whether watching screens or restrained in prams and seats — so that they get better-quality sleep and more time for active play.
The following guidelines apply to all healthy children under 5 years, irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity, cultural background or the family's socio-economic status. They are also relevant for children with different abilities; a child with a medical condition or disability should consult a health professional before beginning these activities. The goals of the guidelines are to recommend how much time should be spent on physical activity, on sleep and on sedentary behaviour to gain health benefits. For this purpose the under-5 group is further divided into three age bands: less than 1 year, 1–2 years and 3–4 years.
| Age | Sedentary Behaviour | Physical Activity | Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | Should not be restrained for more than 1 hour at a time. Encourage reading and storytelling when sedentary. Screen time is not recommended. | Physically active several times a day through interactive floor-based play, including at least 30 minutes of tummy time. | 14–17 hours (0–3 months of age) and 12–16 hours (4–11 months of age) of good-quality sleep, including naps. |
| 1–2 years | Not restrained for more than 1 hour at a time, nor made to sit for extended periods. No screen time for 1-year-olds; for 2-year-olds, sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 hour. Encourage reading and storytelling. | At least 180 minutes in a variety of physical activities, including moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity, spread throughout the day. | 11–14 hours of good-quality sleep, including naps, with regular sleep and wake-up times. |
| 3–4 years | Not restrained for more than 1 hour at a time, nor made to sit for extended periods. Sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 hour — less is better. Encourage reading and storytelling. | At least 180 minutes in a variety of physical activities at any intensity, of which at least 60 minutes is moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity, spread throughout the day. | 10–13 hours of good-quality sleep, which may include a nap, with regular sleep and wake-up times. |
Infants (Less than 1 year)
Infants should be given enough space and an open, safe environment that encourages movement and keeps restrictive or sedentary time to a minimum, so that they can explore their surroundings. They should be active throughout the day, every day. Before a baby begins to crawl, encourage activity by letting them reach and grasp, pull and push, and move the head, body and limbs during daily routines and supervised floor play. This includes giving the baby about 30 minutes of tummy time (time spent lying on the stomach while awake). Play equipment should be chosen carefully — never so small that it can be swallowed, and free of sharp edges or toxic material — and activities such as crawling and rolling should be done on a mat or sheet at least about 7 feet by 4 feet. Sedentary periods should be used for reading and storytelling. Babies aged 0–3 months need 14–17 hours and those aged 4–11 months need 12–16 hours of good-quality sleep, including naps.
Toddlers (1–2 years of age)
Toddlers should not be kept in any single sedentary situation for more than one hour at a time — this includes being restrained in prams, strollers or high chairs, being strapped to a caregiver's back, or sitting for extended periods. Once they can sit and stand, they should be encouraged to take up fundamental movements such as walking, running, jumping, catching, throwing and leaping. Sedentary screen time — computer games, television or video — is not recommended for this group, and time spent on reading and storytelling should not exceed about one hour. Toddlers need 11–14 hours of good-quality sleep, including naps, with regular sleep and wake-up times.