Abstract/Notes: Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a rare genetic condition with characteristic facial traits, organ malformations, functional impairment and developmental delay due to partial short arm monosomy of chromosome 4. Although several hundreds of cases have been published to date, a systematic collection of its clinical symptoms and anthropological traits is missing in the literature, and reports on abilities and needs of children with WHS are scanty. Results of detailed physical and developmental phenotype analyses in a 1 10/12-year-old boy with monosomy 4p15.2-pter are presented. Physical analyses were based on systematic data acquisition. They disclosed a total of 32 clinical symptoms and 46 anthropological traits. Developmental analyses were based on the child's interactive play in an environment structured according to Montessori principles. They disclosed a total of 44 abilities and a number of needs to be satisfied by the environment for the support of the child's psychic and intellectual growth. While the physical phenotype is important for the diagnostic process, the developmental phenotype is essential for parental counseling. PMID: 15844776

Language: English

ISSN: 1015-8146

Abstract/Notes: Little is known about the influence of Montessori methods on children's physical activity (PA). This cross-sectional study compared PA of children attending Montessori and traditional preschools. We enrolled 301 children in 9 Montessori and 8 traditional preschools in Columbia, South Carolina. PA was measured by accelerometry on weekdays during preschool (In-School), non-school (Non-School), and all day (All Day). Minutes/hour of light, moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA), and total PA (light + MVPA) were calculated. Children attending Montessori preschools accumulated more In-School light (7.7 vs. 6.5 minute/hour), MVPA (7.7 versus 6.5 minute/hour), and total PA (15.4 versus 13.0 minute/hour) than children attending traditional preschools, after adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index, parent education and neighborhood poverty index. For Non-School (8.5 versus 6.2 minute/hour) and All Day (8.5 versus 7.6 minute/hour), children in Montessori preschools accumulated more MVPA than children in traditional preschools. In-School PA was higher for children in private Montessori than public Montessori preschools (8.1 versus 7.0 minute/hour; 8.1 versus 6.7 minute/hour; 16.1 versus 13.6 minute/hour, for light, MVPA, and total PA, respectively). Children attending Montessori preschools were more active than children attending traditional preschools. Adopting the Montessori system may be an important strategy for promoting PA in children.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1111/josh.12207

ISSN: 1746-1561

Language: English

ISSN: 0571-1142

Abstract/Notes: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Three-fourths of US preschool-age children are in child care centers. Children are primarily sedentary in these settings, and are not meeting recommended levels of physical activity. Our objective was to identify potential barriers to children’s physical activity in child care centers. METHODS: Nine focus groups with 49 child care providers (55% African American) were assembled from 34 centers (inner-city, suburban, Head Start, and Montessori) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Three coders independently analyzed verbatim transcripts for themes. Data analysis and interpretation of findings were verified through triangulation of methods. RESULTS: We identified 3 main barriers to children’s physical activity in child care: (1) injury concerns, (2) financial, and (3) a focus on “academics.” Stricter licensing codes intended to reduce children's injuries on playgrounds rendered playgrounds less physically challenging and interesting. In addition, some parents concerned about potential injury, requested staff to restrict playground participation for their children. Small operating margins of most child care centers limited their ability to install abundant playground equipment. Child care providers felt pressure from state mandates and parents to focus on academics at the expense of gross motor play. Because children spend long hours in care and many lack a safe place to play near their home, these barriers may limit children's only opportunity to engage in physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Societal priorities for young children—safety and school readiness—may be hindering children’s physical development. In designing environments that optimally promote children’s health and development, child advocates should think holistically about potential unintended consequences of policies.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-2102

ISSN: 0031-4005, 1098-4275

Language: English

DOI: 10.1007/s00779-011-0406-0

ISSN: 1617-4909, 1617-4917

Abstract/Notes: Three-quarters of 3-6 year-old children in the U.S. spend time in childcare; many spend most of their waking hours in these settings. Daily physical activity offers numerous health benefits, but activity levels vary widely across centers. This study was undertaken to explore reasons why physical activity levels may vary. The purpose of this paper is to summarize an unexpected finding that child-care providers cited was a key barrier to children's physical activity.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-6-74

ISSN: 1479-5868

Abstract/Notes: Learning with nature is increasingly popular in Malaysia. However, there are challenges when designing kindergarten outdoor physical environments to assist learning with nature in Malaysia. Previous studies have looked into the types of necessary nature interaction and spaces needed for learning with nature. However, there is a gap in understanding the factors influencing the methods to include nature in the kindergarten outdoor areas. This research aims to investigate the methods of incorporating nature in the outdoor physical environment of kindergartens to facilitate learning with nature. This research is a multiple case study using maximum variation sampling. The main findings suggest that each school’s design is unique as their curriculums and philosophy are different, and the way children interact with nature depends on it. Gibson’s Theory of Affordances, which is when the environment and surroundings allow for the interaction we intended, can help design kindergarten outdoor areas to cater to the curriculum. Integrating nature and man-made materials in the design can create a conducive environment for learning with nature. External factors namely the size of available outdoor areas, terrain conditions, and others will influence how nature is incorporated in the design.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1063/5.0167640

ISSN: 0094-243X

Language: English

ISSN: 0959-4108

Abstract/Notes: Learning with nature is increasingly popular in Malaysia. However, there are challenges when designing kindergarten outdoor physical environments to assist learning with nature in Malaysia. Previous studies have looked into the types of necessary nature interaction and spaces needed for learning with nature. However, there is a gap in understanding the factors influencing the methods to include nature in the kindergarten outdoor areas. This research aims to investigate the methods of incorporating nature in the outdoor physical environment of kindergartens to facilitate learning with nature. This research is a multiple case study using maximum variation sampling. The main findings suggest that each school’s design is unique as their curriculums and philosophy are different, and the way children interact with nature depends on it. Gibson’s Theory of Affordances, which is when the environment and surroundings allow for the interaction we intended, can help design kindergarten outdoor areas to cater to the curriculum. Integrating nature and man-made materials in the design can create a conducive environment for learning with nature. External factors namely the size of available outdoor areas, terrain conditions, and others will influence how nature is incorporated in the design.

Language: English

ISSN: 2289-7410

Abstract/Notes: With introduction by Camillo Grazzini

Language: English

ISSN: 0519-0959