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It's never too early for parents
to encourage their children to be active. According to guidelines
recently released by the National Association for Sport and Physical
Education (NASPE), too much sedentary time spent by children ages
newborn to five may hinder the development of skills such as rolling
over, walking and crawling. The guidelines encourage parents to
think about age- and skill-appropriate physical activities for children,
how to interact with their child and what constitutes a safe, exciting
learning environment.
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Active Start:
A Statement of Physical Activity Guidelines for Children Birth
to Five Years
National Association for Sport and Physical
Education -
an association of the American Alliance for Health, Physical
Education, Recreation and Dance
Infants
There are five guidelines
for each age group and they are intended to answer questions
relative to the kind of physical activity, the environment
and the individuals responsible for facilitating the activity.
Part of the infant's day should be spent with a caregiver
or parent who provides systematic opportunities for planned
physical activity. These experiences should incorporate a
variety of baby games such as peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake and
sessions in which the child is held, rocked and carried to
new environments.
- Infants should interact with
parents and/or caregivers in daily physical activities that
are dedicated to promoting the exploration of their environment.
- Infants should be placed
in safe settings that facilitate physical activity and do
not restrict movement for prolonged periods of time.
- Infants' physical activity
should promote the development of movement skills.
- Infants should have an environment
that meets or exceeds recommended safety standards for performing
large muscle activities.
- Individuals responsible
for the well-being of infants should be aware of the importance
of physical activity and facilitate the child's movement
skills.
Toddlers and Preschoolers
For toddlers, basic movement skills such as running, jumping,
throwing and kicking do not just appear because a child grows
older, but emerge from an interaction between hereditary potential
and movement experience. These behaviors also are clearly
influenced by the environment. For instance, a child who does
not have access to stairs may be delayed in stair climbing
and a child who is discouraged from bouncing and chasing balls
may lag in hand-eye coordination.
- Toddlers should accumulate
at least 30 minutes daily of structured physical activity;
preschoolers at least 60 minutes.
- Toddlers and preschoolers
should engage in at least 60 minutes and up to several hours
per day of daily, unstructured physical activity and should
not be sedentary for more than 60 minutes at a time except
when sleeping.
- Toddlers should develop
movement skills that are building blocks for more complex
movement tasks; preschoolers should develop competence in
movement skills that are building blocks for more complex
movement tasks.
- Toddlers and preschoolers
should have indoor and outdoor areas that meet or exceed
recommended safety standards for performing large muscle
activities.
- Individuals responsible
for the well-being of toddlers and preschoolers should be
aware of the importance of physical activity and facilitate
the child's movement skills.
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Parents, especially new parents,
may be looking for a little guidance or advice on the types of activities
that are appropriate for their child. Gymboree Play & Music instructors
are a great resource and help create an experience for parents and
kids that is fun, while working to develop the foundation of physical,
cognitive and social skills kids need later in life.
Here are some tips from Gymboree
Play & Music that you should keep in mind when choosing a play location
or activity for your child:
- Let's Play: Appropriate play depends on a child's individual
stage of development. Because children learn through all of
their senses, playtime should incorporate a variety of activities.
For example, for babies, Gymboree Play & Music instructors enhance
songs and games with visual and tactile props like colorful
beach balls and scarves. For older children, climbing equipment,
concepts like "up/down" and "over/under," group games, imaginative
themes, and stories are added.
- So Happy Together: A space that allows parents to be
involved with their children while playing is important. Playing
together helps deepen the parent-child bond, as parents are
- more - Gymboree/Page 2 present when their child masters new
skills. Gymboree Play & Music classes also foster discussion
between new parents, and mom and dad can learn new songs and
games to try with their kids at home.
- No Off-Limits: Kids play best when they are in a safe
location that has child-sized equipment and toys, stimulates
the imagination and encourages exploration - which helps build
confidence and independence. A good play space should have a
variety of activities and provide exposure to different sensory
stimulation (various textures, sounds, sights, etc.). In addition,
indoor playgroups or locations with indoor/outdoor options are
key for rainy days when parents and kids just have to get out
of the house.
For more developmentally appropriate
play tips, visit www.gymboree.com.
To sign up for a free Gymboree Play & Music class call (804) 467-8652.
Gymboree Play & Music of Richmond will be opening June 1 at
Chesterfield Towne Center Plaza, 11312 Midlothian Turnpike.
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