Inside and Outside Movement Ideas Dr. Laura McLaughlin Taddei

Learning Objectives Participants will be able to explore the importance of movement in the development of children. Participants will be able to identify whether a movement activity is developmentally appropriate to the age of a child. Participants will work in small groups to create and/or modify a variety of movement activities.

Why is Movement for Children so Important? Per NAEYC’s Beyond the Journal, In the US: Obesity rates are rising dramatically. Significant decline in physical activity of children. The early years are a critical time for developing motor skills. Children need to develop a pattern of physical activity at an early age as well.

Through Movement Children Can… Communicate Learn about their bodies Perceive the world through their senses Be creative Learn to socialize Participate at their own level Increase their fitness levels

Through Movement Children Can… Increase their memory Develop skills of skipping, hopping, and jumping Relieve tension Learn to respect personal space and shared space, respect differences Increase their self-esteem

Developmental Appropriateness of Movement Activity Jean Piaget created a child development theory that is still widely looked to today. We will discuss briefly 2 of the 4 stages: Sensorimotor stage Preoperational stage

Sensorimotor Stage – Ages Birth to 2 A child learns about their environment through physical interactions. They are figuring out how to use their bodies and their senses.

Preoperational Stage – Ages 2 to 7 Children need concrete learning opportunities. They are acquiring motor skills and need child-centered environments in which to explore.

Physical Development Chart Participants will work with a partner to fill out the physical development chart. The chart can be used as a guideline when developing movement ideas later in the class. All children develop individually and not always on the same timeline according to their age.

Physical Development Chart cont… 0 to 6 months: Lifts head Grasps Moves arms and legs actively Rolls over Lifts up knees Crawling motions Reaches for objects 6 to 12 months: Sits unaided Crawling Climbing stairs Develops eye- hand coordination Becomes mobile 12 to 24 months: Walking Running Turning pages of book Scribbling Walking backward Climbing Sliding

Physical Development Chart cont… 2 to 3 years: -Highly mobile -Throws and kicks a ball -Takes apart simple objects -Increased eye- hand coordination -Helps dress and undress self 3 to 4 years: -Jumps in place -Walks down stairs -Balances -Begins to dress self -Builds with blocks -Developed fine muscle control -Endless energy 4 to 6 years: -Improved coordination and is learning many new skills -Climbs, hops, skips, can ride a tricycle -Improved coordination with fingers

Providing Planned Events NAEYC’s “Active for Life” message emphasizes that early childhood professionals need to provide opportunities that are planned and developed to increase the physical skills of the children. Children do not innately know how to skip, hop, and move safely. They need to be encouraged and shown how to move appropriately.

Physical Skills Locomotor: running, walking, and skipping. Stability: balancing and jumping. Manipulative: Throwing, catching, and batting. When children are given opportunities to develop these skills, they become more confident and the whole child is being developed.

Developing Movement Activities In groups of 3 to 4, participants will develop their own movement activity. Activities can be presented to the group by having the group members perform the activity or having the entire class perform the activity.

Conclusion Movement can help children develop in many positive ways, including: self esteem, physical skills, and creativity. The activities need to be developmentally appropriate. Resources to help early childcare educators provide appropriate movement activities are endless. Please review additional resources handout.