Recommendations for
promoting physical activity
in the early years and
levers to influence policy
Key recommendations for promoting
physical activity
Early years
• Planning and developing physical
activity initiatives.
• Working with parents and carers.
• Increasing physical activity in early
years settings.
Planning and developing physical
activity initiatives
Recommendation 1
• Develop initiatives that target adults
who interact with children in the early
years.
Recommendation 2
• Consult with parents and carers to
identify their needs and barriers.
Planning and developing physical
activity initiatives
Recommendation 3
• Use an integrated approach to help
target information at parents and
carers.
Recommendation 4
• Use multi-component approaches
when delivering information.
Working with parents and carers
Recommendation 1
• Provide parents and carers with
information on the importance of
physical activity and the adverse
effects of too much sitting time.
Recommendation 2
• Educate parents and carers about
what counts as physical activity.
Recommendation 3
• Create age inclusive promotional
materials for education and activity
sessions.
Increasing physical activity in early
years settings
Recommendation 1
• Ensure appropriate levels of
practitioner training and support are
in place.
Recommendation 2
• Partner with external agencies to help
practitioners develop their physical
activity knowledge and expertise.
Increasing physical activity in early
years settings
Recommendation 3
• Involve parents and carers both
directly and indirectly in the activities
to ensure they are also carried out in
the home environment.
Recommendation 4
• Offer more frequent short periods of
outdoor play.
Recommendation 5
• Provide more ‘activity friendly’
portable equipment.
Increasing physical activity in early
years settings
Recommendation 6
• Include adult-led activities to
improve motor skills.
Recommendation 7
• Use physical activity as a medium
through which to integrate all areas
of learning and development.
Recommendation 8
• Ensure a balance of free play and
adult-led physical activity
opportunities.
Policy levers
Health risk of sedentary behaviour
Sedentary behaviour in the early years is
associated with overweight and obesity
and lower cognitive development.
Overweight and obesity
Children who are overweight and obese
in the early years are more likely to
grow up to be overweight and obese as
adults.
Policy levers
Health and wellbeing benefits
Physical activity is central to optimal
growth and development in the under
fives.
Physical development
Physical development is now recognised
as being important to children’s overall
development in the early years in all
four UK early years curriculums.
Policy levers4
Brain development
Physically active play can contribute to
the development of many important
brain structures
‘In the early life period, interactions
and experiences determine whether a
child’s brain architecture provides a
strong or weak foundation for their
future health, wellbeing and
development’18
Implications for policy makers
• Promote physical activity through new
policy measures.
• Review early years curriculums and
consider how to incorporate physical
activity sessions.
• Ensure all families are able to use
suitable play areas in the local
communities.
Implications for practitioners
• Provide children with opportunities
to learn new skills.
• Ensure children have regular access
to equipment and the outdoor
environment/space.
• Modify break times to encourage
more focused sessions of outdoor
play.
Implications for parents/carers
• Provide opportunities for children to
be active daily, in a variety of outside
environments.
• Be an active role model by
participating in physical activity with
and without their child.
• Give both boys and girls the same
chance to try a variety of active play
experiences.
References
1. Department of Health. Start Active, Stay Active – A report on physical activity for
health from the four home countries’ Chief Medical Officers. London: Department of
Health; 2011.
2. Chaput J, Klingenberg L, Rosenkilde M, Gilbert J, Tremblay A, Sjodin A. Physical
activity plays an important role in body weight regulation. J Obes. 2011;2011(Article
ID 360257).
3. Monasta L, Batty GD, Cattaneo A, Lutje V, Ronfani L, van Lenthe FJ, et al. Early-life
determinants of overweight and obesity: A review of systematic reviews. Obes Rev.
2010;11(10):695-708.
4. OECD (2007). Understanding the brain: the birth of a learning science. OECD 2007.
ISBN 978-92-64-02912-5.
5. Rudolf M. Tackling obesity through the healthy child programme: a framework for
action. National Obesity Observatory; 2009.
6. Hinkley T, Crawford D, Salmon J, Okely AD, Hesketh K. Preschool Children and Physical
Activity: A Review of Correlates. Am J Prev Med 2008 May;34(5): 435-41.
7. De Craemer M, De Decker E, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Vereecken C, Deforche, B, Manois Y,
Cardon G, on behalf of the ToyBox-study group. Correlates of energy balance-related
behaviours in preschool children: a systematic review. Obesity reviews 2012;13 Suppl
1:13-28.
8. Okely AD, Salmon J, Trost SG, Hinkley T. Discussion paper for the development of
physical activity recommendations for children under five years. Canberra, ACT,
Australia; Australian Department of Health and Ageing, Government of Australia;
2008.
9. Ridgers ND, Fairclough SJ, Stratton G. Variables associated with children's physical
activity levels during recess: the A-CLASS project. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2010,
7:74.
References
10. Health and Social Care Information Centre. Health Survey for England 2012.
Volume 1: Chapter 3 - Physical activity in children. Health and Social Care
Information Centre: Leeds; 2013.
11. Reilly JJ, Okely AD, Almond L et al. Making the Case for UK Physical Activity
Guidelines for Early Years: Recommendations and draft summary statements based
on the current evidence. Working paper. 2009.
12. The Health and Social Care Information Centre, Lifestyles Statistics. National Child
Measurement Programme: England, 2012/13 school year. Leeds: NHS Information
Centre; 2013.
13. Okely AD, Salmon J, Trost SG, Hinkley T. Discussion paper for the development of
physical activity recommendations for children under five years. Canberra:
Department of Health and Ageing, Government of Australia; 2008.
14. Timmons BW, Naylor P, Pfeiffer KA . Physical activity for preschool children: How
much and how? Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 32, 122–134; 2007.
15. Department for Children, Schools and Families. Statutory Framework for the Early
Years foundation Stage - Setting the Standards for Learning, Development and
Care for children from birth to five. Nottingham: Department for Children, Schools
and Families; 2008.
16. Northern Ireland Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment.
Understanding the Foundation Stage. Belfast: Early Years Interboard Group; 2006.
17. Wales Assembly Government. Framework for Children’s Learning for 3-7-year-olds
in Wales. Cardiff: Wales Assembly Government; 2008.
18. Allen G. Early Intervention: the Next Steps, An Independent Report to her
Majesty’s Government. London: HM Government; 2011.