Physical Activity in Early Childhood Settings

March 7, 2011

Brought to you by

About Your Presenter

• Richard Rairigh

• Director of Program & Early Childhood Development @Be Active North Carolina

• Be Active Kids® Program Manager

• Motor Development/Motor Learning and Physical Education Teacher Education

What Did You Say?

• Current practices?

• Needs/wants?

• Barriers?

Get ActiveMaking physical activity a norm and consistent

part of what we do.

Outcomes & Objectives1. Understanding of physical activity2. Understanding of the latest and most influential research 3. Understanding of Social Ecological Model 4. Understanding of national and state efforts to increase physical activity5. Understand a comprehensive approach6. Increase physical activity7. Do one thing differently over the next 3 months to increase physical

activity

• Be Active Kids: 68,000 young children committed being physically active & 38,000 continuing to be active.

Local Partnerships

Focus• Accumulate at least 30 (toddlers)/60 (preschoolers) minutes daily of

structured physical activity.

• Engage in at least 60 minutes and up to several hours of daily, unstructured physical activity and should not be sedentary for more that 60 minutes at a time except when sleeping.

• Develop movement skills that are building blocks for more complex movement tasks.

• Have indoor and outdoor areas that meet or exceed recommended safety standards for performing large-muscle activities.

• Individuals responsible for the well-being should be aware of the importance of physical activity and facilitate the child's movement skills.

Overview of the Latest Research

• Physical Activity in Young Children: Role of Child Care (Ward, DS)

• Low Levels of Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Preschoolers in Child Care (Reilly, JJ)

• Measurement of Physical Activity in Preschool Children (Pate, RR; O’Neill, JR; Mitchell, J)

• Behavior Mapping: A Method for Linking Preschool Physical Activity and Outdoor Design (Cosco, NG; Moore, RC; Islam, MZ)

• Effects of Child Care Policy and Environment on Physical Activity (Trost, SG; Wards, DS; Senso, M)

• Interventions for Increasing Physical Activity at Child Care (Ward, DS; Vaughn, A; McWilliams, C; Hales, D)

10 Keys to Success

1. Understanding physical activity2. Assessing current practices3. Goal setting and action planning4. Integrating physical activity into daily routines5. Alter policies6. Staff wellness & participation7. Parent education & participation8. Enhancing indoor & outdoor spaces9. Choosing and using equipment10. Sustaining an active environment through community

What’s Going On?

National• Programs/Practices

– SPARK – early childhood– CATCH – early childhood– Color Me Healthy

• Initiatives– Let’s Move– Head Start Body Start

• Groups/Organizations– Kaboom– US Play Coalition– Children & Nature Network

State• Eat Smart Move More• Shape NC

– NAP SACC– Be Active Kids– Preventing Obesity by Design/NLI

• Little Bites, Big Steps• Active Play Alliance• NC Children and Nature

Coalition (NCCAN!)

Resources• Fit Source – a web directory for providers

https://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/fitsource

• American Academy of Pediatrics http://www.aap.org/obesity/index.html and http://www.healthychildren.org

• Bright Futures in Practicehttp://www.healthyfuturesva.com/discovery.html

• National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Educationhttp://nrckids.org/

• National Association for Sport and Physical Educationhttp://www.aahperd.org/naspe

• National Association for the Education of Young Children (naeyc)http://www.naeyc.org

• Active Play Bookshttp://www.activeplaybooks.com

What Can You Do Now?

Getting more people, more active, more often!