Being physically fit is
the core of a healthy mind, body and soul. At all ages, physical activity
should be part of your daily routine, especially children in early child care. Young children will benefit from this in so many ways such as these:
Physical activities can help children with their developmental skills such as climbing, jumping, and kicking, which are being learned at this age. “These types of activities can help children build endurance, flexibility, and strength. Offering opportunities for and encouraging physical skill building will help children become physically fit” (Robertson p. 275). By practicing these fine gross motor or locomotor skills, children can make goals toward mastering them. Doing these movements will get the heart pumping and work harder, which is great for your cardiovascular system. According to Robertson’s book, “Children can engage in many physical activities, and different activities help different parts of the body to stay fit and healthy. Aerobic activities help the cardiovascular system to work well, whereas other activities strengthen muscles and bones” (Robertson p. 275). In our book, Table 7-4, ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN TO MEET THE 2008 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS, indicates the types of activities for age group children. For early childhood students, bicycle riding is great for moderate or vigorous activity. Muscle strengthening activities includes rope or tree climbing, games such as tug of war and swinging on playground equipment. To strengthen those bones, activities like hopping, skipping and jumping are great choices (Robertson p. 275-276).
- Help build skills such as fine motor and gross motor
- Strengthen muscles and bones
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Help with self esteem and body image
- Voids the risk of diseases, hypertension or weight loss
Physical activities can help children with their developmental skills such as climbing, jumping, and kicking, which are being learned at this age. “These types of activities can help children build endurance, flexibility, and strength. Offering opportunities for and encouraging physical skill building will help children become physically fit” (Robertson p. 275). By practicing these fine gross motor or locomotor skills, children can make goals toward mastering them. Doing these movements will get the heart pumping and work harder, which is great for your cardiovascular system. According to Robertson’s book, “Children can engage in many physical activities, and different activities help different parts of the body to stay fit and healthy. Aerobic activities help the cardiovascular system to work well, whereas other activities strengthen muscles and bones” (Robertson p. 275). In our book, Table 7-4, ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN TO MEET THE 2008 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS, indicates the types of activities for age group children. For early childhood students, bicycle riding is great for moderate or vigorous activity. Muscle strengthening activities includes rope or tree climbing, games such as tug of war and swinging on playground equipment. To strengthen those bones, activities like hopping, skipping and jumping are great choices (Robertson p. 275-276).
When a child is not active on a daily basis and is infused with unhealthy food choices, it affects them physically, mentally and emotionally. Here are some examples:
The body needs movements in order to become stronger and healthier. “Children who eats diets with excessive calories and fat tend to be overweight. This is another factor in cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension among children has increased over the past decade or so due to overweight” (Robertson p. 266). Mentally, they may feel ashamed or not good about their body image. Not being able to do what most children are, will most likely bring their self-esteem down. Exercise makes you feel confident and happier, whereas not practicing it, makes you feel less proud and doubtful of oneself. Emotionally, children may feel stressed or depressed. “Mentally and emotionally, obesity lowers self-esteem and has a powerful effect on peer relationships and social acceptance. Children who are neglected by peers are more likely to become obese. Children who are overweight may be teased, bullied, or excluded from activities by other children. This can led to serious emotional problem, including depression and even rage” (Robertson p. 268).
- Become overweight or obese
- May experience Hypertension or Cardiovascular diseases
- Low self esteem
- Feeling of isolation or loneliness
- Depression
The body needs movements in order to become stronger and healthier. “Children who eats diets with excessive calories and fat tend to be overweight. This is another factor in cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension among children has increased over the past decade or so due to overweight” (Robertson p. 266). Mentally, they may feel ashamed or not good about their body image. Not being able to do what most children are, will most likely bring their self-esteem down. Exercise makes you feel confident and happier, whereas not practicing it, makes you feel less proud and doubtful of oneself. Emotionally, children may feel stressed or depressed. “Mentally and emotionally, obesity lowers self-esteem and has a powerful effect on peer relationships and social acceptance. Children who are neglected by peers are more likely to become obese. Children who are overweight may be teased, bullied, or excluded from activities by other children. This can led to serious emotional problem, including depression and even rage” (Robertson p. 268).
Adults can help children
develop good fitness habits by modeling through example. Children learn by
sight, sound and action. Group activities are a great way to get children up
and going. Use tools such as balls for catching, throwing, rolling or even
kicking to build their fine motor skills.
“Children need to develop basic competency in fundamental motor skills
for games, sports, and lifetime physical activity. For example, a child who can
catch a ball is more likely to succeed at sports such as softball or basketball
in which catching is a critical skill. The research is clear that children
develop competency in their fundamental motor skills during the early childhood
years” (Payne & Isaacs 2005). “During this time period, many children do
not receive the appropriate kinds of experiences to develop these skills and
may start kindergarten with developmental delays in this area” (Goodway &
Branta 2003).
Games such as hot peas
and butter is a good way to help children with their manipulation skills such
as catching or throwing a ball. In this game, the concept is imagining the ball as a
pea. It can be served hot or cold. The ball (pea) is to be passed to the person
next to you in a fast or slow motion, while the group is standing in a circle.
The instructor will say pass the peas cold, students will then pass the ball
slowly. When said, pass the peas hot, the ball will be passed quickly to the
next person. You may modify it by throwing, rolling or even kicking the ball.
It is a fun and great game to play with students. Another game called Hop Scotch is a wonderful
way to build children’s fundamental motor skills. In this game, children will
hop in and out or off and on several different objects. One object that can be
used for this activity is hula hoops. You may set up the hoops according to
your own way. Students will then take turns jumping or hopping in and off of
the hoops. What a great way to get their hearts pumping and strengthen their
legs.
A quote in our book, Safety, Nutrition, and Health in Early
Education had me thinking that I can implement this movement into the
classroom. “If children are given goals for physical activity that are
reachable, it is much easier to expect them to achieve a healthy level of
activity as part of their fitness regime” (Robertson p. 273). When I read this, it made me think about the
Jump for Hearts program we do every year in our school for The American Heart
Association. We not only raise money but on the day of or before Valentine’s
Day, we jump rope in honor of the association. Students and staff team up in
groups and take turns jumping for one hour. It seems like a long time but we stop
for breaks and pair off. This the busiest day of the year. We are not only
raising money but students are receiving cool prizes from donations,
celebrating Valentine’s Day with classroom parties and the school’s dance, while
making time to jump rope for a cause.
I would love to include activities
for students to do and receive a reward for doing a great job. Setting a number
or date that this can be accomplish will help in the process. Games like
counting the number of certain fruits eaten like apples or oranges, or challenge
students to do one hundred hula hoops collectively throughout the month. It can
always be modify if you like, just using some examples. For the reward, I would
have a dance off. What kid does not like a dance off? This is a great way to keep students excited
about learning while having fun. My duty is to see children healthy and happy.
By doing this challenge, I will be promoting healthy eating habits and
reinforcing physical activity.
Resources
Goodway, J. D., & Robinson, L. E. (2006, March).
SKIPing toward an active start: Promoting physical activity in preschoolers.
Beyond the Journal: Young Children on the Web. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200605/GoodwayBTJ.pdf
Robertson, C. (2013). Safety, Nutrition, and Health in
Early Education (5th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.
Hi Barbara,
ReplyDeleteGreat work on your blog! Thanks for sharing the game idea of hot peas and butter. I hadn't heard of it before, but it sounds similar to the game called hot potato. In addition to building motor skills, I think it would also be a good game for children to listen and follow directions, good brain work at the same time too! Have fun with "your kids" at school!