Section 5: Physical Fitness
Erica Wilford
Educ 1005
· Write an introductory paragraph or at least five bullet points that explain why physical fitness is so important for young children. Include at least three developmental skills that children are learning at this age, and describe how physical activities can help children toward mastery of these skills. Be sure to cite evidence from the learning resources or, if desired, use other resources to support your claims.
Physical fitness can make a difference in the health of many children. Children can do many physical activities to encourage good health. Many children are not getting outside play time because they are substitute that time to watch television. It is vital for parents and teachers to encourage some form of outside and inside play that helps to improve their children health. Physical fitness is important for all children of all ages. Physical fitness can improve children developmental skills such as:
· Large motor skills
· Fine motor skills
· Social and emotional skills
· Movement skills
· Cognitive skills (manipulative)
· Indicate how adults can help children develop good fitness habits. Describe at least two activities, such as specific games or movements, which are appropriate and enjoyable for children of this age. At least one of the activities should involve gross-motor (locomotor) skills, and another should involve fine-motor (manipulative) skills. Remember, the activities you recommend should be developmentally appropriate, which includes noncompetitive.
Large motor skills should be included in preschoolers and school-aged student’s daily activities because it helps to strength their muscles and bones. “As part of their 60 or more minutes of daily activities children and adolescents should include muscle-strengthening physical activity on at least three days of the week” (Robertson 2013, p. 272).” There are many activities that can encourage physical growth for preschool and school-aged children as touching toes with hands, playing volleyball, hang from bars, walking beam, playing hopscotch, and jumping jack. These activities can also promote health bones growth for young children.
Fine motor play can be used to encourage a health growth for all ages especially infants. Working with infants for many years encouraged me to encourage them to use their small muscle skills for learning and physical development. They were encouraged to hold their bottles, grasp toys, to beats on toys, mesh play (cook grits), and to reach for toys. “Infants should interact with parents and/or caregivers in daily physical activities that are dedicated to promoting the exploration of their environment.”
Parents and teachers can encourage physical fitness to improve young children social and emotional development. There are many physical activities such as center time and outside time that can helps to improves young children social and emotional skills. Teachers can allow their infants, toddlers, and preschoolers time to play in small groups as housekeeping, block building, dress-up play, setting-up, and clean-up time to encourage social skills and physical fitness. “When you plan an activity that two or three children need to do together, it’s not just getting the job done, it’s about structuring for social growth” (Jones 2008, p. 37).” They can also promote social and physical skills by encouraging their children to play outside games together.
Movement and cognitive skills can be used to enhance physical fitness and learning development. “Literacy and mathematic concepts can be easily taught in an active manner and physical active can be incorporated into any theme” (Goodway 2006, p. 5).” There are different movement’s activities as stacking blocks, playing with puzzles, stringing beads, singing, and dancing to encourage physical and learning skills. Blocks can be used for stacking and count. Puzzles can be used to improved fine motor skills and cognitive skills. Children can sing and dance to the number and alphabet song to promote physical, language, and cognitive skills.
· Explain what can happen when children do not engage in healthy fitness activities. Be sure to consider the impact on children of being overweight or obese, including implications for health and self-esteem.
· Explain what can happen when children do not engage in healthy fitness activities. Be sure to consider the impact on children of being overweight or obese, including implications for health and self-esteem.
Physical education can help make a difference in whether some children are label as obese. Some children that are obese are facing health risks as high blood pressure, strokes, and heart diseases. There are young children that are facing obesity because of not eating healthy meals or snacks and not participating in physical activities. “The problem of childhood obesity can be imposed by an increase in physical activity, diet management, and behavior modification” (Robertson 2013, p. 268).” There are many foods that are contributing to obesity as fast foods, too much sugar intakes, too much sodium, and fats. Some children that are overweight have low self- esteem which can contribute to them eating more unhealthy food. “Early intervention that uses the whole-child approach has been especially effective in helping obese children lose weight and improve their level of self-esteem” (Robertson 2013, p. 269).”
· Based on your readings, include at least one inspirational, thought-provoking quote that captures your attitude and/or philosophy about fostering children's healthy growth and development.
The theory behind every good teachers are good students is so true to me. “Teachers may have to guide some children into participating in more physical activities” has inspired me to interact more with my students during outside and inside playtime (Robertson 2013, p. 276). When I worked with preschoolers, I notice that some of them did not participate; they just sat around on the playground while the other children played. To promote good health the playground should not be a place for just sitting.
· For your fact sheet, draw on the information in the fitness articles from this week's Required Resources and your own research to provide evidence about the positive impact that physical activity has on children's health, both now and in the future. Be sure to cite your sources.
Physical activities can help improve children‘s health. “The United States is experiencing a dramatic increase in the number of children who are overweight and a significant decline in children’s overall physical activity” (Goodway 2006, p. 1).” Many children needs to be more involved in outside and inside play activities to help control their weight problems. Teachers can make a difference in their student’s health by encouraging them to participate in outside and inside play. “By encouraging all children to be physically active and providing daily large motor activities to ensure this, teachers promote good health and well-being for children in their care” (Robertson 2013, p. 280). Toddlers and preschoolers can be encouraged to set-up and clean-up their play centers. By encouraging children to participate can teach them organization skills, responsibilities, and respect which can help them now and in the future.
References
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
Jones, P. N., (2008). 2,4 or 6? Grouping Children to promote social and emotional development: Retrieved from www,naeyc.org/files/tyc/file/TYC_V3N1_Jones.pdf
Robertson, C. (2013). Safety, Nutrition, Health in early Education. (5th ed). Belmont: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.
National Association for Sport and Physical Education. (2006, May). Active start: Physical activity guidelines for children birth to five years. Beyond the Journal: Young Children on the Web. Retrieved fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200605/NASPEGuidelinesBTJ.pdf
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