Kids Kept Indoors Due to Poor Clothing Choices
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Inappropriate clothing can limit or prevent young children’s outdoor physical activity, a U.S. study has found.
Researchers looked at 53 child-care providers from 34 child-care centers in Cincinnati to determine why children’s physical activity levels may vary across centers. They were surprised to find that clothing could be a major barrier to outdoor activity.
Clothing that limited or prevented outdoor activity included: inadequate weather protection, such as a lack of coats and gloves in the winter; unsuitable footwear, such as flip flops; and “nice” or expensive outfits that had to be treated with care.
Having a few children with inappropriate clothing could prevent an entire day-care class from going outside to play, the researchers said.
Children’s clothing choices were a significant source of conflict between parents and child-care providers, the study authors noted. Reasons why parents may dress children inappropriately include: forgetfulness, a hectic morning routine, limited income to buy clothes, a child’s preference for a favorite piece of clothing, and parents failing to understand the importance of outdoor play.