title: Physical activity and beverages in home- and center-based child care programs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe and compare obesity prevention practices related to physical activity and beverages in home- and center-based child care programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A telephone survey of licensed home- and center-based child care programs in Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington between October and December 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most programs reported almost universal access to outdoor play areas and staff who frequently engage in and lead physical activities. About half of the programs reported ≤ 60 minutes of outdoor play time per day for preschoolers. Fewer home-based programs offered a variety of fixed and portable play equipment. Over a third of the programs did not have adequate indoor space for all physical activities. Over two thirds of programs offered juice 3 or 4 times per week or more.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many child care programs could increase active opportunities (by increasing outdoor time and providing better spaces for indoor physical activity) and decrease juice provision.
authors.affiliation: Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98145-5005, USA.
authors.forename: Pooja S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Tandon
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Garrison
authors.forename: Dimitri A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Christakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001628:Beverages; D017028:Caregivers; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009043:Motor Activity; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010988:Play and Playthings