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Promoting Active Play & Physical Wellness in Children & Youth

Child and youth professionals can have a significant impact on childrens physical development, from supporting their physical activity to enhancing their fundamental motor skills, all of which can influence how competent children feel in their movement and how much they engage in physical activity. In this training, we review the research on physical wellness for children and youth, including the recommended daily doses of physical activity for various ages, the benefits of daily movement, and ways program leaders can help staff members or family child care providers support childrens physical development and healthy habits. We also identify 勛圖厙 tools and resources that program leaders can use to support high-quality active play and physical wellness in their programs.

勛圖厙 Lessons & Resources Referenced
  • IT, Safe Environments, Lesson 5: Safe Sleep Practices
  • PS, Physical Development, Lesson 3: Indoor Environments and Experiences
  • PS, Physical Development, Lesson 5, Apply: Physical Activity Resources
  • SA, Physical Development, Lesson 3: Environments and Experiences
  • Active for Life (2023). Activities for Kids.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021). Infant Physical Activity.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021). Toddler Physical Activity.
  • Bardid, F., Rudd, J. R. , Lenori, M., Polman, R., & Barnett, L. M. (2015). Cross-cultural comparison of motor competence in children from Australia and Belgium. Frontiers in Psychology, 6,
  • Bolger, L. E., Bolger, L. A., O'Neill, C., Coughlan, E., O'Brien, W., Lacey, S., Burns, C., & Bardid, F. (2021). Global levels of fundamental motor skills in children: A systematic review. Journal of sports sciences, 39(7), 717753.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Active people, healthy nation. 
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Health benefits of physical activity for children. 
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Physical education and physical activity. 
  • Dunbar, R.R., & OSullivan, M. (1986). Effects of Intervention on Differential Treatment of Boys and Girls in Elementary Physical Education Lessons. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 5, 166-175. DOI:10.1123/JTPE.5.3.166
  • Duncan, M.J., Roscoe, C.M., Noon, M., Clark, C., O'Brien, W., & Eyre, E. (2019). Run, jump, throw and catch: How proficient are children attending English schools at the fundamental motor skills identified as key within the school curriculum? European Physical Education Review, 26(4)
  • Early Learning Matters (ELM) Curriculum for Preschoolers. /elm-curriculum/preschool
  • Goodway, J.D., Ozum, J.C., & Gallahue, D.L. (2019). Understanding motor development: Infants, children, adolescents, adults. (6th Ed.). Jones and Bartlett. 
  • Iruka, I. U., Curenton, S. M., Durden, T. R., & Escayg, K. A. (2020). Dont Look Away: Embracing anti-bias classrooms. Gryphon House. 
  • Lindsay, A. & Byington, T. 2020, Fundamental Movement Skills | Active Kids Are Active Adolescents, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, IP.
  • NAEYC. (2012). Key messages of the NAEYC/Fred Rogers Center position statement on technology and interactive media in early childhood programs. National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Childrens Media.
  • Nemours Childrens Health. (2023). Childrens activities: Get kids moving. Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures.
  • Nemours Children's Health. (2023). Family child care resources.
  • Newell, K. M. (2020). What are Fundamental Motor Skills and What is Fundamental About Them?, Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 8(2), 280-314.
  • NSW Government, Western Sydney Local Health District (n.d.). Fundamental Movement Skills.
  • PBS Learning Media. (2023). We have the moves! Physical activity resources. Sesame Street.
  • Rainer, P., & Jarvis, S. (2020). Fundamental movement skills: Are they a fundamental part of a young childs physical education? University of South Wales,
  • Rudd, J. (2015). Cant throw, cant catch: Australian kids are losing that sporting edge. The Conversation.
  • Shape America. (n.d.). Active start: A statement of physical activity guidelines for children from birth to age 5. (2nd ed.). Shape America.
  • Stodden, D. F., Langendorfer, S. J., Goodway, J. D., Roberton, M. A., Rudisill, M. E., Garcia, C., & Garcia, L. E. (2008). A developmental perspective on the role of motor skill competence in physical activity: An emergent relationship. Quest, 60(2), 290306.
  • Zeng, N., Ayyub, M., Sun, H., Wen, X., Xiang, P., & Gao, Z. (2017). Effects of Physical Activity on Motor Skills and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood: A Systematic Review. BioMed research international, 2017, 2760716.