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Thursday, August 1, 2013

Why Is Physical Activity Important In Early Childhood


Why Is Physical Activity Important In Early Childhood 

             Physical Activity into young children's lives is essential for creating a foundation of movement and activity that they will carry with them throughout the rest of their lives. Physically active children learn habits in early childhood that greatly increase their chances of remaining physically active through their young adult and teenage years and into adulthood. Early childhood are ideally placed to foster the development of good physical activity habits early in life and to encourage families to engage in regular physical activity.

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Early childhood should offer a wide choice of play-based, physically active learning experiences that link to children's interests, abilities, identity and prior knowledge. Physical activity in childcare needs to be made up of both structured (i.e. intentionally taught) physical activity and unstructured, spontaneous activity. As active role models, educators can encourage children to participate in physical activity. 

Benefits Of Being Active For Young Children

The benefits of being active for young children include:

1) Promoting healthy growth and development

2) Helping to achieve and maintain a healthy weight

3) Building strong bones and muscles

4) Improving cardiovascular fitness

5) Improving balance, coordination and strength

6) Maintaining and developing flexibility

7) Improving posture

8) Assisting with the development of gross motor and fine motor skills

9) Providing the opportunity to develop fundamental movement skills

10) Helping to establish connections between different parts of the brain

11) Improving concentration and thinking skills

12) Improving confidence and self-esteem

13) Relieving stress and promoting relaxation

14) Providing opportunities to develop social skills and make friends

15) Improving sleep.



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