Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered the daily routines of children worldwide, affecting their physical activity, screen time, and sleep patterns. As a practitioner, understanding these changes and their implications is crucial for promoting healthy movement behaviors among children. The research article "Promoting healthy movement behaviours among children during the COVID-19 pandemic" provides valuable insights and recommendations that can enhance your practice and encourage further research.
Understanding Movement Behavior Guidelines
Global movement behavior guidelines recommend that preschool children (aged 3–4 years) engage in at least 180 minutes of physical activity, limit sedentary screen time to no more than one hour, and have 10–13 hours of good-quality sleep per day. For school-age children and adolescents (5–17 years), the recommendations include at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, no more than two hours of sedentary recreational screen time, and 9–11 hours of good-quality sleep each day.
Impact of COVID-19 on Children's Movement Behaviors
The pandemic has significantly affected children's ability to meet these guidelines due to school closures and physical distancing measures. Opportunities for physical activity through active travel to school, physical education, and organized sports have diminished. Consequently, children are more sedentary, with increased screen time and inconsistent sleep patterns.
Research indicates that during the pandemic, time spent in places associated with physical activity decreased by 31%, while sedentary activities like watching TV and playing video games increased significantly. This shift poses several health risks, including vitamin D deficiency, mental health issues, and myopia.
Recommendations for Practitioners
- Incorporate Physical Activity: Encourage parents to integrate physical activity into their children's daily routines. Use electronic media to facilitate participation and promote family involvement while adhering to physical distancing regulations.
- Limit Sedentary Time: Advise parents to break up extended periods of sitting every 30–60 minutes with activities like standing and stretching.
- Promote Consistent Sleep Patterns: Help parents establish consistent bed and wake times, keep screens out of bedrooms, and avoid screen use before bedtime.
- Educate and Advocate: Educators should promote movement behavior guidelines and incorporate healthy movement messages into daily routines. Health professionals should reinforce these guidelines during consultations.
Encouraging Further Research
The pandemic offers an opportunity to raise awareness of movement behavior guidelines and promote their uptake across society. Practitioners are encouraged to engage in further research to understand the long-term impacts of the pandemic on children's movement behaviors and develop strategies to mitigate adverse effects.
Conclusion
By implementing the recommendations from the research article, practitioners can play a pivotal role in promoting healthy movement behaviors among children during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Promoting healthy movement behaviours among children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
