Children's Physical Activity
In this video, Karen Tonge shares her insights into children’s movement behaviours. She discusses her research into children’s physical activity in early childhood education and care services and provides tips about how to promote physical activity at home.
Here are some key messages from the Expert Insights talk for you!
Early childhood is a sensitive time for learning and development, including developing positive behaviours and attitudes relating to physical activity.
The Australian 24-hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years indicate that children between 3 and 5 years of age should be physically active for at least 180 minutes throughout the day, including at least 60 minutes of energetic play.
What contributes to children’s physical activity?
Time
- Increased time spent in the outdoor environment is linked to higher rates of physical activity in children.
- Periods of uninterrupted time allow children to sustain engagement in physical activity.
Space
- Free flowing access between the indoor and outdoor spaces can support increased levels of physical activity.
- Having a large outdoor space was found to only moderately impact children's physical activity levels. What really matters is what is happening in the space.
Role of Adults
- Adult levels of physical activity influence childrens level of physical activity.
- When adults (eduators, parents, family members etc.) become more involved in children's play and encourage physical activity they can positively influence children's activity levels.
Ideas to encourage physical activity in the home environment
- Provide resources with mobility and moveable parts such as balls, skipping ropes and bikes
- Drawing with chalk on the path
- Play hopscotch using masking tape on the floor
- Dancing to music
- Balloon games e.g. don't let the balloon touch the floor
- Scrunch up paper into a ball to throw
- Park a little further away at school drop offs, at the grocery store etc.
