“Surplus safety” preventing learning

300 delegates at Early Childhood Ireland conference in Croke Park are warned that a “Surplus safety” attitude to child play is preventing children from learning while obesity has reached a “tipping point” in Ireland

Doctor Catherine Woods, lecturer in exercise psychology and physical activity for health in DCU and Professor Donal O’Shea had some stark warnings for over 300 delegates at Early Childhood Ireland’s conference in Croke Park this weekend entitled “Happy, Healthy, Able – Are Irish Children Fit for Life?”  These experts warned that a “surplus safety” attitude to child play in relation to avoiding all risk, even minor risk, is preventing children from learning essential life skills while obesity levels amongst both adults and children have reached a real “tipping point” in Ireland.  On a more positive note, Beverton Preschool in Donabate and Stepping Stones Early Learning Centre in Athlone were presented with awards for their innovation and learning stories by Early Childhood Ireland.

Doctor Catherine Woods observed the sad reality that children today would have a life span 5 years shorter than their parents due to inactivity levels.  Alarmingly though, parents are in denial, with 75% reporting that their child is sufficiently active while research proves that only 19% or one in five children are meeting the recommended level of physical activity.  Meanwhile, 75% to 85% of parents perceive their overweight child as normal weight.  Dr. Woods strongly recommended that children under 2 years old should avoid screen time and children aged 2 to 4 should have a maximum of 1 hour screen time per day.  She highlighted the “huge benefits of physical activity from an early age in relation to gross motor skills, fine motor skills and a child’s self perceived confidence both academically and athletically”, adding that we’ve got to switch the call for physical activity in Ireland from one of “mustivation to motivation.”

Professor Donal O’Shea warned that we have reached a real “tipping point” in Ireland in relation to obesity levels in both children and adults.  He described it as “an explosion currently crippling our health system” when so much of it is preventable and “regular, routine physical activity is what it’s all about.”  Explaining the impact of obesity on children, he quoted them direct: “Nobody in my class will play with me”; “I’m six but everyone thinks I’m in third class”; “I don’t go outside anymore”.  His recommendations are to “replace sugar sweetened drinks with water; watch portion size and use the food pyramid; be active for more than an hour every day; sleep for at least 6 to 8 hours; weigh yourself once a week (adult), once or twice a year (child) and, most importantly, parents need to lead by example.”

Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland said that the conference theme emerged from a growing concern about the well-being, physical and mental health of our young children and how parents in Ireland are quite overwhelmed by these issues and don’t know where to start.  She added that, “If we are to make young children and their early years care and education a priority in Ireland that means looking after the people charged with their care and education and respecting them properly in terms of pay, conditions and training.  However, the reality today is that Ireland is bottom of the league table in terms of the percentage of GDP that we invest in childcare at 0.2% which is way off the 1% necessary investment we are striving towards.”

Ends.