KEY POINTS:
Dozens of gym-based creches could close because of new laws requiring them to educate children while their parents exercise.
Fitness New Zealand, which represents 275 of the country's gyms, said the legislation just passed into law was "over the top" for the gyms' intended purpose of supervising children
for the hour or so that parents worked out.
It accused the Government of ignoring the views of the industry and parents over the regulation of gym creches. The legislation, which comes into effect on December 1, marks the culmination of a review of childcare regulations that has been under way since 2003.
Fitness New Zealand chief executive Richard Beddie said despite consultation, the ministry had pushed ahead with legislation that would further decimate gyms' ability to provide childcare services.
The regulations require so-called "limited attendance centres" to provide "a range of learning opportunities and experiences" that follow a prescribed curriculum.
Supervisors must provide parents with feedback on their child's interests, activities and learning during their visits.
Mr Beddie said the education requirements and sleeping logs made no sense when children only attended the centres for 50 minutes two or three times a week.
"Feedback from parents is extremely clear - they want a safe environment for their children for small periods of time while they exercise, but do not expect full education standards to apply," Mr Beddie said.
He said the Ministry of Education's regulations could mean just 12 per cent of all fitness centres would continue to offer childcare.
Mr Beddie said it was ironic that if a gym chose not to provide supervised childcare, it could allow children into the gym unsupervised, and there would be no regulations for their care.
The New Zealand Recreation Association agreed significant numbers of childcare centres would be forced to close, "or parents will be presented with increased childcare costs that make their exercise no longer economically viable".
"It is ironic that one arm of the Government is hampering another arm's [SPARC's] efforts to increase levels of physical activity," said acting chief executive Kirsten Malpas. "It is widely accepted that limited access to childcare is a barrier for many to do physical activity. We should be reducing barriers, not building up more."
Karl LeQuesne, group manager of early childhood education for the Ministry of Education, said the concept of curriculum in gym-based creches was designed to recognise that children were constantly learning, no matter where they were.
All early childhood education services would be required to follow the curriculum but in a way that recognised "the casual nature and shorter duration of children's attendance".
THE CURRICULUM
* Some examples of learning at a limited attendance centre:
* Dramatic, eg dressing up.
* Creative, eg artwork.
* Books, language and music.
* Manipulative, eg puzzles.
* Construction, eg blocks.
* Exploratory, eg natural objects such as leaves, stones, and water.
* Physical activity, eg dancing, games.
* Areas for busy/physical play would ideally be situated away from areas for quiet play where children might play with books and puzzles.
* Equipment/toys would be appropriate for the ages of the children using them, offer challenges and be able to be used in a range of ways.
