SAN ANTONIO – Researchers at the University of South Carolina found that having siblings had a positive impact on children, and the increased use of electronics at an age earlier than 3 years old had a negative impact on kids' physical activity.
Russell Pate, a researcher, said this is the first time research has been done on kids between 6 months and 3 years old.
“We do not have federal guidelines on physical activity for kids younger than age 3. And so, there’s a need to learn more about physical activity, behavior in very young kids and the association between physical activity and health on kids that age,” Pate said.
Studies have found that children’s physical activity tends to decline as they get older, Pate explained.
“Our social environment and our physical environment has changed in ways over the years that have the effect of distracting kids away from physically active pursuits,” he said. “When I was a kid, it wasn’t very interesting to be inside because there was nothing to do. And so we would go outside and find a way to get in trouble. But kids today can be inside and be entertained because they can just rotate from one device to another.”
The study found that babies and toddlers who had siblings were more likely to be more physically active.
“If I was thinking about how to get one particular kid more physically active, the first thing I would do is get them to spend more time with other kids that are being physically active, you know, because that social influence is really profound,” Pate added.
Predictably, the study found that the lack of physical activity in kids that young had an impact on their health, too. Pate hopes researchers can look at the long-term impact of their health outcomes.
“My number one recommendation to parents is to be physically active with your kids,” Pate said. “And it doesn’t need to be highly planned or structured. It can be, but it doesn’t have to be. You know, it can be going outside to play for a few minutes after dinner; it can be going for a walk in the neighborhood,” he said.