New guidelines set the minimum amount of activity that toddlers, preschoolers and even babies should get each day.

The new report was developed by experts including the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology; obesity specialists at Ottawa香蕉视频直播檚 Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital of Eastern Ontario; and the non-profit group ParticipAction.

The 香蕉视频直播�24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years香蕉视频直播� suggests kids aged one to four should get at least three hours of physical activity spread throughout the day.

That includes at least one hour of 香蕉视频直播渆nergetic play香蕉视频直播� for three- and four-year-olds 香蕉视频直播� something that previously wasn香蕉视频直播檛 recommended until age five. Suggestions include running, dancing, or playing outside.

Babies, too, should work on daily goals. Researchers suggest those younger than 12 months get at least 30 minutes of 香蕉视频直播渢ummy time香蕉视频直播� spread throughout the day. It香蕉视频直播檚 the first time this group has been assigned a minimum duration of what could be considered exercise.

VIDEO:

The guidelines are based on research that suggests kids aged four and younger are much too sedentary and get too much screen time.

香蕉视频直播淭he earlier we can influence the trajectory of children香蕉视频直播檚 behaviours, growth and development, the better,香蕉视频直播� says Dr. Mark Tremblay, director of the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group at the Ottawa hospital.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a greater chance that if that trajectory changes a little wee bit, way back when you香蕉视频直播檙e really young, by the time you reach the end of adolescence that could amount to a whole heck of a lot.香蕉视频直播�

The guide follows a similar report released in June 2016 with advice for five- to 17-year-olds.

Like that previous report, the guide takes a 香蕉视频直播漺hole day香蕉视频直播� approach that integrates previously separate recommendations for sedentary and active time. Parents are urged to see how their kids香蕉视频直播� sleep, sedentary and active time are all interrelated.

Tremblay says just 13 per cent of preschoolers aged three and four meet the overall guidelines, a shortfall he blames on too much screen time. As much as 76 per cent of preschoolers exceed the one-hour limit of screen time per day.

He香蕉视频直播檇 like to see that age group in 香蕉视频直播渆nergetic香蕉视频直播� play for at least 60 minutes spread throughout the day, in addition to two more hours of activity at any level 香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播渕ore intensity is better,香蕉视频直播� he adds.

There wasn香蕉视频直播檛 enough data to suggest a minimum amount of energetic play for toddlers aged one and two, but again, Tremblay says more is better.

There was enough data to recommend that babies who are not yet sitting or crawling get at least 30 minutes of waking time on their tummy, supervised and spread out throughout the day.

香蕉视频直播淎llow them to develop the muscles on the front and the back, in different positions,香蕉视频直播� Tremblay says of the practice, which puts a baby on their tummy, thereby forcing them to use their neck and back muscles to get a look at their surroundings.

Floor-based play can help build strength, too, with suggestions including reaching and grasping, pushing and pulling, and crawling.

Also new this time around: references to 香蕉视频直播渟creen time香蕉视频直播� are now qualified as 香蕉视频直播渟edentary screen time.香蕉视频直播�

That香蕉视频直播檚 because screens have become so ubiquitous that it香蕉视频直播檚 possible for a preschooler to have a smartphone in their hand while walking, says Tremblay.

香蕉视频直播淭he safety of assuming that screen time is sedentary has deteriorated over time,香蕉视频直播� he acknowledges, adding a quick qualification. 香蕉视频直播淚 still think the vast majority of it for all of us is done sedentary.香蕉视频直播�

There is no recommendation on 香蕉视频直播渁ctive香蕉视频直播� screen use 香蕉视频直播� such as video games based on a player香蕉视频直播檚 movement 香蕉视频直播� which was not studied.

香蕉视频直播淚 know kids sometimes at home are watching Disney videos and they香蕉视频直播檙e dancing around to them and that happens. That香蕉视频直播檚 better than if they weren香蕉视频直播檛 (moving), but not as good as if they were just dancing around to music with Mom and Dad,香蕉视频直播� says Tremblay.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 what the literature seems to show 香蕉视频直播� the authenticity of human contact and three-dimensional experiences is better.香蕉视频直播�

Excessive screen time before age five is linked to language delays, reduced attention and lower school readiness.

While not all sedentary time is harmful 香蕉视频直播� such as reading or storytelling with a caregiver 香蕉视频直播� the report says toddlers and preschoolers should not be allowed to sit for extended periods, or be restrained for more than one hour at a time, such as in a stroller.