As kids, most of us were often found playing outside until the sun went down. We all have fond memories of spending quality time with our friends while also getting some much-needed physical activity. Unfortunately for the children of today, technology seems to be getting in their way. They spend most of their time glued to screens while playing outside has just become a thing of the past for them. However, the WHO (World Health Organisation) has now released new guidelines which state that children under five years of age should have limited screen time and should get more physical activity if they are to grow up healthy.
“Achieving health for all means doing what is best for health right from the beginning of people’s lives,” says WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Early childhood is a period of rapid development and a time when family lifestyle patterns can be adapted to boost health gains.” A panel of experts from the WHO got together to create these new set of guidelines.
The experts said that leading a sedentary lifestyle that puts children in front of screens at all times or crams them up in prams and chairs can be really bad for their health. In fact, it was found that when children were not meeting their current physical activity recommendations, it was responsible for more than 5 million deaths globally each year across all age groups. “What we really need to do is bring back play for children,” says WHO Dr. Juana Willumsen, “This is about making the shift from sedentary time to playtime, while protecting sleep."
“The important interactions between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and adequate sleep time, and their impact on physical and mental health and wellbeing, were recognized by the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity, which called for clear guidance on physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep in young children.” The experts also said that activities like singing, reading and puzzles were important for a child's mental and physical development.
Here are the guidelines set for them:-
- For infants (under 1 year of age): They need to be physically active several times of day in a variety of ways which can include floor-based play or crawling activities including on their tummy. They should not be exposed to screens. Infants also need to be set free most of the time and not crammed up in a pram or chair for over an hour. When it comes to sleep time, infants ages 0-3 months need to get at least 14–17 hours of sleep whereas those aged 4–11 months need 12-16 hours of sleep.
- For children aged 1-2 years: These kids need to get at least 180 minutes of physical activity per day and that may include moderate to vigorous intensity activities. Do not restrain them for over an hour at a time and ensure that screen time is less than an hour. They need 11-14 hours of regular sleep per day which should also include naps and proper waking up times.
- For children aged 3-4 years: These kids also need to get at least 180 minutes of physical activity per day out of which at least 60 minutes need to include moderate to vigorous intensity activities. Screen time over an hour is not recommended for this age group either. And sleeping time is recommended between 10–13 hours.
Well, now that you're aware of these guidelines, it's time to put them into action.
