Family Child Care Providers’ Compliance With State Physical Activity Regulations, Delaware Child Care Provider Survey, 2011

Abstract

IntroductionDelaware is one state that has implemented comprehensive child care regulations to foster healthy dietary and physical activity behaviors of young children. This study describes the Delaware family child care environment and providers’ knowledge of and compliance with physical activity regulations. We analyzed the data to determine characteristics associated with predictors of knowledge of and compliance with these regulations.MethodsA random stratified sample of 663 licensed Delaware family child care providers was mailed a survey on family child care characteristics and providers’ awareness and practices of the child care regulations. Three logistic regression models were used to explore the association between provider characteristics and their knowledge of and compliance with the regulations.ResultsUltimately, 313 of the 663 eligible family child care providers participated in the survey (47.2% response rate). Controlling for covariates, we found that family child care providers’ education level was significantly associated with knowledge of the physical activity regulation. Another model showed that family child care providers with larger amounts of outdoor space were more likely to report compliance with the recommendation for unstructured physical activity than those without this described space (odds ratio, 2.45). A third model showed a significant association between available indoor space for all activities including running and reported greater compliance with the recommendation for structured physical activity than was reported by caregivers with less indoor space (odds ratio, 11.2).ConclusionTo provide the recommended levels of physical activity for children in child care, the available physical space environment is an important area of focus for advocates of physical activity recommendations within the family child care environment.

Training and Technical Assistance for Compliance With Beverage and Physical Activity Components of New York City’s Regulations for Early Child Care Centers

“…Our analysis showed that factors such as classroom size, operating hours, and teaching staff turnover were associated with regulatory compliance. Consistent with the previous findings, our analysis showed that participation in CACFP was associated with better compliance with regulations related to nutrition ( 12 ) and that compliance with regulations related to physical activity was associated with the presence of physical activity facilities at the center ( 11 ).…”

“…Few empirical studies have systematically assessed compliance with regulations concerning nutrition and physical activity in child care settings. Recent assessments of compliance with nutrition and physical activity regulations among child care centers in Delaware found that 86% of child care centers were compliant with state-wide recommendations (not regulations) regarding unstructured physical activity and 78% compliant with the recommendations concerning structured physical activity ( 11 ). These findings are consistent with ours: 77.5% of centers were compliant with the regulations regarding structured physical activity and 85.5% of centers were compliant with the regulation concerning total physical activity.…”

Comparison of Physical Activity Environments in Michigan Home-Based and Licensed Childcare Programs

“…Best-practice guidelines recommend that staff receive PA training at least twice per year (23). A previous study in Delaware of family childcare providers reported that 86% had PA training in the last 12 months, compared with 43% of licensed childcare providers (8). In the present study, only 30% (home) and 21% (licensed) of respondents had this training in the last 12 months.…”

“…In the United States, the childcare PA environment has been characterized using statespecific surveys in Washington, Oklahoma, and Delaware (8)(9)(10). Similar studies in other states are necessary because licensing guidelines, weather, beliefs, and practices vary (11,12).…”