Healthy habits for preschoolers -How does your home compare with the ideal

In my last blog, I shared with you a new report grading how well childcare facilities provided healthy eating and physical activity for children under their care. The report also discussed the "Model Child Care Regulation for Healthy Eating and Physical Activity".

I am sharing with you these ideal regulations so you can see how your home or child care setting compares. Although these are "ideal" meaning " if everything was perfect" and of course, it is hard to be perfect! it is still good guidelines and can help you evaluate some of your current family habits.

Healthy Eating

1. High fat*, high sugar, and high salt foods are served less than one time per week or are not served
2. Sugar sweetened beverages are not served
3. Children older than two years are served reduced fat milk (skim or 1%)
4. Clean, sanitary drinking water is available for children to serve themselves throughout the day
5. Nutrition education is offered to child care providers at least one time per year
6. Juice is limited to a total of 4-6 ounces or less per day for children over one year of age
7. Child care providers do not use food as a reward or punishment
8. Nutrition education is offered to children at least three times per year
9. At least one child care provider sits with children at the table and eats the same meals and snacks
10. Providers encourage, but do not force, children to eat

Physical Activity

1. Children are provided with 60 minutes of physical activity per day, a combination of both teacher led and free play
2. Television, video, and computer time are limited to one time per week or less and not more than 30 minutes each time
3. Child care providers do not withhold active play time as punishment
4. Children with special needs are provided opportunities for active play while other children are physically active
5. Children are provided outdoor active play time at least two times per day
6. Physical activity education is offered to child care providers at least one time per year
7. At least one provider joins children in active play at least one time per day
8. Shaded area provided during outdoor play
9. Children are not seated for periods longer than 30 minutes except when sleeping or eating
10. Physical activity education is offered to children at least three times per year