For the first time government health experts are issuing advice to parents on exercise for children under five.

They say the amount of time babies and toddlers spend strapped in buggies or car seats should be cut down.

Instead, toddlers should be allowed to move around or be physically active for at least three hours a day.

The new guidance reflects growing concern over children who do not exercise enough, which can be linked to obesity and brain development.

Chief Medical Officers for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have come together to issue the new guidance.

It is the first time they have combined to issue UK-wide advice on exercise among the under-fives.

From birth

Their  recommendations include encouraging babies to move about and be active from birth, for example on activity mats or swimming.

They say that all under-fives should spend as little time as possible being restrained or sitting still except when they are sleeping.

And once a child can walk, they should be physically active and moving around for at least three hours a day.

Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England, said all young children should be encouraged to be active.

"For children that are not yet walking, there is considerable international evidence that letting children crawl, play or roll around on the floor is essential during early years.

"Play that allows under-fives to move about is critical and three hours a day is essential.

"I think there are parents who are not aware how important it is for their children to be physically active for a minimum of three hours.

"Other parents are very busy and may not see how important it is to get that prioritisation and balance right.

"So what I'm saying is this matters to your child now, to their development through childhood and adolescence and to their disease profile in middle age and later life."

According to the Department of Health, recent studies suggest that only about 30% of children in England between the age of two and 15 get the recommended amount of exercise.

'Huff and puff'

Most UK pre-school children currently spend between two and two-and-a-half hours a day being active.

'Active play' is described as something like using a climbing frame or riding a bike, running or chasing games, swimming or skipping - anything that makes a child 'huff and puff'.

For babies the advice is to let children crawl and roll on a mat, encouraging them to reach out and grab toys or taking them for a baby swimming lesson.

But the charity and campaign group The Children's Society says many parents need help in order to ensure their children get enough exercise.

Elaine Hindal, director of the Children's Society Campaign for Childhood, says: "Parents, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, need access to good quality low-cost play facilities, childcare and support from health visitors.

"Guidance is a step in the right direction, but real practical support for parents and families is badly needed.

"We are concerned that the government's welfare reforms and spending cuts will lead to parents being denied the opportunity to provide toddlers with necessary physical exercise."

But the guidance was welcomed by Professor Terence Stephenson, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, who said: "The early years shape every child's future.

"Physical activity is important from an early age - if a toddler spends too much time sitting passively in front of a TV then problems will be stored up for the future.

"These guidelines offer an excellent first step and an active childhood helps to lay the foundations for an adulthood with less risk of health problems such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes."

It as absolutely critical, and it can be lots of fun.  My grandson love it "chase" me around the kitchen table.  He sequels with  delight.

A recent report on obesity shows that the lowest rate in the US, in Colorado, is 19+%, which ten years ago was the highest rate in the country, in Mississippi, which is now at 38+%.  Its a real problem

What ever happened to "go out and play"

What ever happened to "go out and play"
Precisely!  I will say that that still works at our house but we have yard, swingset, and trampoline.  In apartments many not so lucky.

In apartments many not so lucky.
What is wrong with the parent or parents taking the child or children out to play?

What is wrong with the parent or parents taking the child or children out to play?


It's pretty healthy,keeps the parents active too.

What is wrong with the parent or parents taking the child or children out to play?
I think what she meant was that some people who live in apartments might not have a "play area" for the kids.  In some large cities, there aren't any parks nearby and the only places for kids to "play" are parking lots, which are often filled with cars, thus limiting the amount of actual movement the kids can do.

My kids don't have a trampoline, but we also have a fairly large yard and playset.  We also live on a circle drive with only 4 houses so the kids can play in the street fairly safely as basically the only cars that drive through are the people who live IN the circle and we're the furthest away from the main street.  They are out there quite often playing basketball...our hoop faces the street because our driveway is quite sloped and it just made more "sense" to put it out there since they would be constantly out there "chasing down" the ball anyway ;D