The Weight of Opinion - The early childhood sector's perceptions about childhood overweight and obesty

Abstract

Early childhood is a critical time in a child’s development when the foundations for good or poor eating habits and self-regulation of appetite are laid. Because long day care centres and preschools structure the daily environment in which the children in their care play and learn, the early childhood sector can make an important contribution to preventing and (sometimes) dealing with childhood overweight and obesity. Whether through the direct provision of food at child care or rules/suggestions surrounding the food that children are to bring to preschool, they exert some control over what children consume while in their care. Similarly, they control the amount of active play time that is available during the day. Long day care centres and preschools may also incorporate messages about healthy eating and the benefits of active play into their curriculum, and may provide modelling of good eating habits by the teachers/workers during snack or meal times. They may also regulate the kinds of fundraising opportunities used to support their preschools/centres (e.g. no chocolates or donut fundraisers), and provide parents with information and support regarding the development of healthy habits. This report presents the findings from a series of in-depth interviews on the perceptions of early childhood staff about the issue of childhood overweight and obesity and their role in supporting healthy eating and active play.Interviews were conducted with eleven directors and staff members from four long day care centres and four preschools, located in three areas within metropolitan Sydney and one area in rural NSW. The results show that the early childhood educators recognise childhood overweight and obesity as a serious issue and appreciate the complexity of the causes of the increasing prevalence of overweight. They viewed these issues as part of their core mission as early childhood educators, and worked under a philosophy of close partnership with families (and, in some cases, with local health professionals). All of the participants also acknowledged that parents can be sensitive about their children’s weight, that there can be uncertainty surrounding definitions of overweight among young children, and that there can be emotions around the provision of food and children’s eating patterns. At the same time, interviewees recognised that the early childhood sector can only do so much by themselves and that their efforts need to be complemented by efforts to support parents and change cultural and environmental factors that make it difficult to eat healthy foods and get adequate physical activity, especially considering the fact that not all children have access to or participate in early childhood education. However, given the large proportion of children and parents who do have contact with the early childhood sector, the potential to strengthen the role of the sector in preventing childhood overweight and obesity and promoting healthy eating and active play was highlighted in the research. The interviewees gave practical suggestions for how that could occur. They wanted more early childhood-friendly games, activities, books, songs, and posters about healthy eating and physical activity, more resources they could give directly to parents, more guidance on optimal nutrition policies (for preschools), more training for themselves (including information on when to be concerned about children’s weight and what to do about it), and more access to health professionals who could come and speak to them and the parents.