Big impact on small children: child-care providers’ perceptions of their role in early childhood healthy lifestyle behaviours

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to examine childcare providers’ perceptions of their role in child health behaviors and attitudes pertaining to physical activity and nutrition. Part and full-time providers in a childcare center or family childcare home were interviewed (n = 30) in this cross-sectional, qualitative study. Transcripts were digitally recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed for general themes and sub-themes using a grounded theory by three investigators. All participants were women (100%), and most were employed full time (73%). Four general themes were identified with sub-themes: 1) teachers’ perceptions of their role; 2) teachers’ perceptions of lack of consistency between home and school; 3) teachers’ attitudes and beliefs about movement and; 4) teachers’ attitudes about food, feeding, and child nutrition. Providers emphasized their care-giving role and did not identify their role in shaping health behaviors. Engaging with parents is indispensable, but providers are often frustrated with parents’ double standards. They felt that movement was important, but that children were sufficiently active. Teachers encouraged eating, but acknowledged personal struggles with good nutrition. Empowering childcare teachers to serve as role models for all healthy behaviors may benefit child and teacher wellness.

KEYWORDS:

• Early childhood environment
• nutrition
• physical activity
• preschool
• day care

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the participating child-care providers and graduate students in the Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Laboratory who participated in data collection and analyses, specifically Alicia Nelson and Seerat Nasir. They would also like to thank Kathy Kyler for editorial review of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Susan B. Sisson conducts her research in the Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity Laboratory in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Centre. Research in the lab focuses on physical activity and sedentary behaviour epidemiology and related risk behaviours such as the consumption of poor quality food and lack of adequate physical activity. Other research interests include the influence of the physical and social environment, such as early childhood care environments, on food consumption and physical activity behaviours. Young children and disadvantaged populations are of particular interest.

Chelsea L. Smith, M.S. is a doctoral student in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Centre. Ms. Smith's academic background is in exercise science and epidemiology. She is currently conducting research as a part of the Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity Lab with Dr Susan Sisson. Research interests are focused around childhood metabolic health, and include the factors of nutrition, physical activity, and screen time. She also has research interests in the role of parents, siblings, and the environment in prevention of childhood obesity.

Marshall Cheney’s research interests focus on tobacco and e-cigarette use in young adults, and designing effective prevention programs to prevent smoking. Dr Cheney’s research interests also include Health Disparities and Minority Health and the Social Determinants of Health. Researchers in the Social and Behavioural Health Lab primarily use qualitative research methods and Social Marketing principles to understand health behaviours.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported in part by a grant from the Infants, Toddlers, Twos, and Threes Research Initiative at the Early Childhood Education Institute at the University of Oklahoma. The authors have no conflicts of interest.