Move

Session 3 of 4

Benefits of physical activity for children.

National Physical Activity Recommendations.

Get Active Each Day Key Message:

Physical activity related to gross motor skills development

Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS).

Reflecting on current practices.

Move Overview

What is Physical Activity?

Did you know . . .

Young children’s physical

activity patterns are

characterised by short, intense

bursts of activity intermixed

with periods of rest (lower

intensity activity).

Promotes healthy growth weight and

development.

Builds strong bones and muscles.

Improves balance, coordination,

posture and strength.

Maintains and develops flexibility.

Improves cardiovascular fitness.

Can relieve stress and promote

relaxation.

Provides opportunities to develop

social skills and to make friends.

Improves confidence and self esteem

Improves concentration and thinking

skills.

Helps establish connections

between different parts of the

brain that develop memory and

language.

Assists with development of gross

motor and fine motor skills.

Provides the opportunity to develop

fundamental movement skills.

Why is physical activity important for

young children . . .

Toddlers (1 to 3 years of

age) and preschoolers (3

to 5 years of age) should

be physically active every

day for at least three

hours, spread

throughout the day.

For healthy development, infants (birth to 1 year), physical

activity – particularly supervised floor-based play in safe

environments - should be encouraged from birth.

Physical Activity Recommendations

for Children Birth to 5 years

Infants, toddlers and

preschoolers should not be

sedentary, restrained, or

kept inactive, for more

than one hour at a time -

with the exception of

sleeping.

Maximising opportunities for physical

activity in the early childhood setting

Maximise the space available – indoors and outdoors

Have appropriate equipment and resources available

Structure time to allow for physical activity

Use routines, transitions and physical care as opportunities

for being active

Include movement within learning areas

Plan movement-based learning experiences

Use spontaneous opportunities

Use interactions with children to encourage physical activity

Promote physical activity through everyday tasks

Physical Activity

for babies

birth to 12 months

Babies, brain research,

and movement.

Why is „tummy time‟ such an

important part of a baby‟s

gross motor development?

Key Message: Get active each day

How can we ensure babies are receiving the

physical activity experiences they need?

Educators should: Understand gross motor development.

Use physical care routines.

Ensure time is planned for experiences.

Spend time interacting 1:1.

Provide opportunities to revisit physical

skills.

Use a variety of appropriate and

interesting baby toys, and nursery

rhymes/children’s songs to promote

movement.

Set up the environment and equipment

to support physical development.

Refer to the Move Learning Activities.

Move Learning Activities

Physical Activity for Toddlers

12 to 24 months

Children learn to walk independently

between 10 and 18 months of age.

Walking is the

main focus of

gross motor

development

for this age

group.

Physical Activity for Toddlers

24 to 36 months

By 2 years of age, toddlers have

mastered walking skills - now

exploring many gross motor skills.

More engagement with other children

and interacting through playing

games together.

Physical Activity for Preschoolers

3 to 5 years

With greater control over their body, preschool children

gain increased confidence and mobility.

Get Active Each Day cards

Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS)

FMS are a set of 12 gross motor skills that involve different body parts such as feet, legs, trunk, arms, hands and head.

FMS are the ‘building blocks’ or foundation movements for more complex and specialised skills.

Children do not

naturally learn FMS

as part of their

normal growth and

development.

The earlier these skills are

introduced through play

experiences and exploration, the

more likely children will be to

engage in physical activity

throughout their lives – developing

competence and confidence.

Let‟s practice

FUNdamental Movement Skills . . .

Teaching and Learning FMS

It is important that children experience

frequent, supported opportunities to

explore, practice and develop FMS.

Planned intentional FMS experiences

should be positive and play-based, with

educators supporting and encouraging

children’s emerging skills.

Intentional FMS Experiences

This simply means planning experiences that

focus on Fundamental Movement Skills.

Action Song/s

• A Sailor Went to

Sea, Sea, Sea

• Heads,

Shoulders,

Knees & Toes

• Running to the

Corner

Stability Skills (eg, stretching,

bending,

balancing)

• What’s the Time

Mr Wolf (FMS

running)

Action Song

•If You’re Happy

& You Know It

Transition Song(to move from

vigorous to quiet

activity)

•Everybody Do

This

Relaxation

For older toddlers and preschoolers, developing

FMS also includes small group participation in a

planned Intentional FMS Experience using the

following format (example included):

Integrating Move into the everyday

curriculum

Important points:

Physical activity provides many important benefits.

National Physical Activity Recommendations now

exist.

Aim to plan daily Intentional FMS Experiences.

Be an active role model.

Reflecting on our practices . . .

Reflect on the service’s

current practices in

relation to the Move

key messages.

Monitor

Research around

Small Screen Time

89% of 4-5 year olds spend more

than 2 hours watching television,

videos or DVD’s in a 24-hour period.

Infants are watching

between 30-60 minutes

of television each day.

Children who spend more than 2 hours

each day in small screen time are more

likely to have an unhealthy diet and are

less likely to be physically active.

Behaviours associated with

small screen recreation

during childhood have been

shown to track into

adulthood - leading to long-

term energy imbalance and

an increased risk of

overweight and obesity.

Key Message

Turn off the television or

computer and get active

Children younger than 2

years of age should not

spend any time watching

television or using other

electronic media (DVDs,

computer and other

electronic games).

For children 2 to 5 years of

age, sitting and watching

television and the use of other

electronic media (DVDs,

computer and other electronic

games) should be limited to

less than one hour per day.

Infants, toddlers and preschoolers should not be sedentary,

restrained, or kept inactive, for more than one hour at a time, with

the exception of sleeping.

The “National Physical Activity Recommendations

for Children Birth to 5 years” also include

recommendations for Small Screen Time . . .