Fewer kids may spend their days sipping sugary juice and lounging in front of “Blue’s Clues” if city health officials succeed in passing stricter standards for day care centers.
The proposed resolution, introduced Wednesday by the city’s Department of Public Health, would set new rules about nutrition, physical activity and TV viewing in the city’s licensed day cares in an effort to curb childhood obesity.
“It just makes sense,” said Melanie Dreher, a health commissioner and dean of the Rush University College of Nursing. “It’s a simple recommendation that will improve the lives of little kids and their parents.”
The Board is expected to vote on the resolution on Nov. 18.
Illinois ranks 10th in the nation for childhood obesity, with nearly 35 percent of the state’s youth falling into the unhealthiest weight category, according to data from the non-profit Trust for America’s Health.
Assistant Health Commissioner Joseph Harrington told the board that while public health programs in schools are frequently used to combat obesity, early child care is an “untapped setting” with potential for reaching kids at a critical, habit-setting stage.
“There’s more and more evidence that instead of sitting in a classroom, we should be getting these kids moving and shaking off some of the weight,” agreed Jennifer Herd, senior policy analyst for the Department of Public Health.
Chicago’s day care providers are not currently subject to rules about exercise or TV time, but do face lengthy nutrition requirements, as spelled out in a 43-page Chicago Department of Public Health document for child care centers.
The new regulations would increase the age at which children are allowed to drink juice from six to 12 months, and would cap all children’s juice consumption at four ounces per day. Day cares are already prohibited from serving any juice products that are not made from 100 percent juice.
Many researchers believe that the high sugar and calorie content in juice — even those with no sugar added — can promote an unhealthy weight and tooth decay.
Under the new rules, child care workers would be required to lead physical activity sessions for kids older than 12 months and may not leave children sitting still for more than one hour continuously, except for naptime.
TV and video games would also be banned for toddlers under two years old; for older kids, it would capped at one hour of educational or exercise-based shows per day.
Meesha Pike, owner of Chicago Green Home Day Care in Ukrainian Village, said her day care, which offers “music and movement” exercises and daily trips to the park, already meets the more stringent requirements.
“I think it is a great idea,” said Pike, who watches 11 children, ages 3 months to 3 years old. “I do not think that juice should be served at day cares, just milk. And I do not think TV should be allowed, even educational.”
If passed, the new regulations would be phased in over two years, commissioners said Wednesday. Health department inspectors would be charged with enforcing the rules, although most day care providers would be expected to “self-comply,” Harrington said.