EARLY CHILDHOOD

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SUPERVISION

A child's level of physical activity should be assessed as part of health supervision visits. (For more information on health supervision, see Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, listed under Suggested Reading in this chapter.)

Health professionals can begin by gathering information about the child's level of physical activity. This can be accomplished by selectively asking key interview questions listed in this chapter, which provide a useful starting point for identifying physical activity issues and concerns.

Health professionals can then use this chapter's screening and assessment guidelines, and counseling guidelines, to provide families with anticipatory guidance. Interview questions, screening and assessment, and counseling should be used as appropriate and will vary from visit to visit, child to child, and family to family.

Desired outcomes for the child, and the role of the family, are presented to assist health professionals in promoting physical activity.

Previous Page          Next page

Return to section contents page