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By
Catherine M. Pruissen
Parents
are naturally concerned about what their child does
all day at daycare. Are they watching too much television?
Are they getting enough exercise? Are they doing things
that make them happy - that will help them in their
overall development? A recent survey of 800 American
children from across the country gives us a "kids-eye"
view of the activities children favour most. Luckily
for parents, television isn't the only activity children
enjoy.
The
study confirms that active, highly social activities
like snack time, playing with others, going on outings
and making friends outfavour television. Better than
80 percent of the children said they like these activities
"a lot".
"This
survey confirms the wisdom of what quality child care
providers already do: have a wide-ranging curriculum
that includes active, social and creatively challenging
activities", says Barbara Reisman, executive
director of the Child Care Action Campaign.
"The
good news is that children overwhelmingly like their
child care activities because they can just be kids
as they learn and grow," says Kenneth A. Macke,
chairman and chief executive officer of Dayton Hudson
Corporation, which underwrote the survey on behalf
of its Child Care Aware program, a public service
education campaign on quality child care. "We
want to share the information with working parents
as they continue to monitor how their child care arrangements
fit their children's needs", he said.
Here's
a look at what activities children in both center-based
and family daycare enjoy doing.
ACTIVITY
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Having a snack-85%
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Playing with others -84%
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Going to the playground -83%
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Going for walks/outings- 82%
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Making friends- 82%
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Getting hugs from teachers- 68%
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Storytelling- 64%
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Playing "make believe/dress-up/house -64%
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Playing musical instruments -64%
-
Playing in the sandbox- 61%
-
Writing -61%
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Reading -61%
- Watching
television -79%
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Taking care of animals- 78%
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Playing board games/blocks -74%
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Painting/drawing- 74%
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Listening to music- 71%
- Singing
-49%
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Playing alone- 34%
- Napping-
31%
"I
LIKE IT HERE, ESPECIALLY SHARING DAY WHEN EVERYONE
BRINGS A TOY. I ALSO LIKE HUGGING MY TEACHER AND PLAYING
OUTSIDE."- boy aged 4.
Parents
should consider sharing this information with their
child care provider and taking the time to talk about
the activities their child is involved in. A lack
of artwork, disrupted toys, happy playing bodies may
signal a lack of positive activity and may be detrimental
to a child's development. Take a moment to ask, "What
did Johnny do today?", or what wild and wonderful
things your provider has planned for the week. This
small investment in time is an investment in your
child.
Resources
Child
Care Aware is a cooperative public service program
of Dayton Hudson Corporation, its foundation and its
Target, Mervyn's, Dayton's, Hudson's and Marshall
Field's stores and several prominent national child
care advocacy organizations. 1-800-424-2246
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