Researchers tested a special program called CHAMP in 56 childcare centers to help preschoolers develop healthy eating and exercise habits. The program taught kids about nutrition and physical activity through fun activities over 30 weeks. Children who participated showed better movement skills and healthier body weights compared to kids in centers without the program. The study included 855 children around 4 years old from low-income communities. While the program didn’t make kids eat more fruits and vegetables right away, it did help them develop important physical skills that could benefit them for life.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a special health program in daycare centers could help preschoolers develop better eating and exercise habits
  • Who participated: 855 children around 4 years old from 56 daycare centers in low-income Maryland communities
  • Key finding: Kids in the program showed better movement skills and healthier body weights after 6 months compared to children who didn’t get the program
  • What it means for you: Quality preschool programs that focus on healthy habits may help young children develop better physical skills and maintain healthier weights, especially when combined with good nutrition and activity environments

The Research Details

Researchers randomly divided 56 childcare centers into three groups: one got the CHAMP program only, another got CHAMP plus a parent website, and the third got no special program. The CHAMP program was based on an existing curriculum called Food Friends and lasted 30 weeks. It included lesson plans, activities, handouts, and materials that daycare staff used with the children. The researchers measured children’s willingness to try new foods, fruit and vegetable preferences, movement skills, physical activity levels, and body measurements before and after the 6-month program.

This type of study design is considered the gold standard for testing whether programs actually work because it randomly assigns participants to different groups, which helps ensure that any differences seen are due to the program itself rather than other factors.

This was a well-designed study with a large number of participants, multiple measurement points, and researchers who didn’t know which children were in which group when they collected data, which helps prevent bias in the results.

What the Results Show

Children in the CHAMP programs showed significant improvements in their movement skills, including better coordination and locomotion abilities. Their gross motor skills improved by about 5.67 points more than children in the control group. The program also helped children maintain healthier body weights, with BMI z-scores decreasing by 0.08 points compared to the control group. These improvements happened regardless of whether parents also had access to the website component, suggesting the daycare program alone was effective.

The program didn’t immediately change how willing children were to try new foods, their preferences for fruits and vegetables, or their levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during the study period. However, children in daycare centers that already had higher-quality nutrition and physical activity environments showed greater improvements in willingness to try new foods and physical activity levels.

This study adds to growing evidence that childcare-based interventions can positively impact young children’s health outcomes, particularly in the areas of motor skill development and weight management, which are important foundations for lifelong healthy habits.

The study only followed children for 6 months, so we don’t know if the benefits lasted longer. The program didn’t show immediate changes in eating behaviors or physical activity levels, which might take more time to develop or require different approaches.

The Bottom Line

Parents should look for preschools and daycare centers that have structured programs focusing on physical activity and nutrition education. The quality of the center’s nutrition and physical activity environment appears to matter for maximizing benefits.

Parents of preschool-aged children, especially those from low-income communities, and childcare providers interested in implementing evidence-based health programs should pay attention to these findings.

Improvements in movement skills and body weight measures were seen after 6 months, but changes in eating habits may take longer to develop and weren’t observed in this timeframe.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your preschooler’s gross motor skills development by noting improvements in activities like running, jumping, catching balls, and balance games
  • Encourage daily structured physical activities and movement games at home that complement what children learn in quality daycare programs
  • Monitor your child’s physical activity engagement and motor skill development over 6-month periods, while maintaining realistic expectations for gradual dietary changes

This research provides general information about childcare-based health programs and should not replace professional medical advice. Consult with your child’s pediatrician about appropriate nutrition and physical activity recommendations for your individual child’s needs and development.