This interactive 50-state map, developed by the Public Health Law Center, syntheses data on how state child care licensing regulations match best practices for 3- to 5-year-olds, relating to healthy eating, active play and screen time best practices. Additional maps relating to best practices for the birth to 2-year-olds plan to be added. This tool resulted from a project that aimed to understand the strengths and weaknesses of child-care regulation in the United States regarding nutrition, active play, and screen time. The research team created a child-care regulatory policy content coding system for key obesity-related indicators, and developed an interactive map that outlines the policy content and coding results from each state. The site also includes state-specific fact sheets that compare each state’s licensing regulations related to nutrition standards, active play, and screen time limits with scientifically-based health standards.
Keywords: Child Care/Preschool, Legal, Nutrition standards, Physical activity
Focus Areas: Early Childhood, Nutrition Policy & Programs
State: National
Age Group: Preschool-age children (ages 3 to 5)
Resource Type: Tools & Measures
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