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Importance of physical development in early childhood
Importance of physical development in early childhood
children's physical development 0-8 years
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Currently there is a focus in schools and society on the extent of physical activity and obesity in young people
Introduction
Physical Activity is ranked second, behind tobacco, in being the most important factor in health promotion and disease prevention in Australia (Vic Health (n.d)). According to the 2007 Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, “17 per cent of boys and girls were classified as overweight, 6 per cent were obese”. This Essay is looking at the issue of obesity and the importance of Physical Activity in middle childhood, this being 6 to 10 year olds, and what a teacher can do to increase the amount of physical activity these children participate in. Also discussed are some of the different strategies that could be implemented to assist with this issue.
Why is physical activity important for the 6 to 10 year old age group?
Between the ages of 6 to 10 years, physical activity is important as it supports many aspects of a child’s development. These aspects include the overall health of their bodies, the cognitive and social skills necessary for getting along with others, and their sense of self-worth as active and capable beings. (Berk. 2001. p.314). Physical Activity is needed for the development and consolidation of gross and fine motor skills. (McDevitt & Ormrod. 2010. p. 167)
The World Health Organisation recommends that children in the 6 to 10 age group engage in 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity each day (World Health Organisation, 2011). This recommendation doesn’t need to be all at once but an accumulation of physical activity throughout the day. Physical activity includes any movement that is being done, be it, completing c...
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Nutrition Australia. (n.d.). Healthy Living Pyramid. retrieved from http://www.nutritionaustralia.org/national/resource/healthy-living-pyramid
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved from
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Unicef . (1999). Co-operation games: Fruit salad. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/teachers/learner/fruit.htm
Vic Health. (n.d.). Physical Activity. Retrieved From
http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/en/Programs-and-Projects/Physical-Activity.aspx
Victorian Institute of Teaching. (2008). The Victorian Teaching Profession Code of Conduct. [Brochure] Melbourne. Vic: Author.
World Health Organisation. (2011). Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health 5-17 years. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/physical-activity-recommendations-5-17years.pdf
It helps babies and young children improve their balance and flexibility, improve their bone strength, heart and lung capacity. Regular physical activity and exercise and engagements is very important for a healthy brain development in babies and young children. Physical activity and movement can help stimulate the brain growth and facilitate key connections for learning. Babies would develop muscle tone over time so they could begin to crawl. Exercise and physical activity improves babies and young children’s coordination, catching and throwing skills, enjoyment, motivation and social skills. It increases energy boosts and helps stop stress and anxiety which affects positively on self esteem. Activities such as: a climbing frame, balls to roll/throw, moving to music are good to help children’s physical development. In my setting there are many activities that are planned to increase opportunities for children to improve their physical
Exercise, food, technology, and money all play a role in causing childhood obesity. Lack of exercise among adolescents has been proven to be the leading cause of childhood obesity. According to a May 2012 Institute of Medicine report, only half of America’s children and one in four teens get enough activity to meet current guidelines (Doheny and Noonman 1). The recommendations call for children to participate in at least 60 minutes of vigorous to moderate physical activity every day (Hendrick 1). “Only four percent of elementary schools, eight percent of middle schools, and two percent of high schools provide daily physical ...
In the 21st century childhood obesity is regarded as one of the most serious public health challenges faced by the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2013). Figures recorded by the National Child Measurement programme for the 2011/12 period showed children aged 10-11, of which 14.7% were overweight and a further 19.2% figure were classed as obese. Statistics from the same report also indicate boys in the same age group are more likely to be obese with a figure of 20.7% compared to a 17.7% figure for girls. These figures are a large cause for concern for both these children and on a wider scale, society. Obesity is caused by a number of factors that can range from the not so obvious of social class, to the clear lack of exercise and poor diet. Obese or overweight children are more likely to carry this status into adulthood and put themselves at an increased risk of developing associated health problems such as raised cholesterol, high blood pressure and even premature mortality (Public Health England, 2013). Obesity is defined as the over consumption of calories in relation to little physical activity, this means calories consumed are not being burnt but turned into fat cells (NHS, 2012).
Through the performance of physical activity in children there is a continued positive effect on the motor development and further refinement of actions. During this developmental stage, it ...
Generally, preschoolers mainly engage in physical activity with other children (“Preschoolers at play”). Teachers encourage this by helping children plan roles, encouraging to talk to peers, and posing open ended questions since physical play is significant to the development of children (Rice 2). According to the Child Development Institute, physical play helps a child develop connections between the nerve cells and the brain (Wonderly 1). As these connections develop, a child’s fine and gross motor skills are improved (Wonderly 1). According to the North Carolina Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center, “All children birth to age five as well as school age children should engage in daily physical activity that promotes health-related fitness and movement skills” (Wonderly 2). This is due to the fact that physical activity is significant to children and their development because the process of physical development starts in human infancy and the peak of physical development happens in childhood (Thomas 1). It is a crucial time from infancy to late adolescence for neurological brain development and body coordination (Thomas 1). This is a time where gross and fine
Getting involved in any school or at home physical activity helps promote a healthy habit and reduce the risk of heart disease .Children can play on the playground and by going up and down the slice help’s weigh management. When my son was 3 years old, I fel...
Also, many children suffer from obesity, and being outdoors is the best way to burn those calories. Since 1980, the childhood obesity rates from ages two to nineteen have tripled — with the rates of obese six to eleven-year-olds more than doubling (from seven percent to seventeen and a half percent) and rates of obese teens from ages twelve to nineteen quadrupling from five percent to twenty percent. (NHANES, 2011-2014 data) Children need to be more active, and by reducing recess this is not assisting the obesity epidemic. Physical activity simply feeds the
Participation in physical activity is essential for everybody with or without disabilities. Regular physical activity throughout childhood is vital for healthy growth and development of bones, tissues and joints as well as cardiovascular fitness, strength and flexibility (Health Canada, 2009). Previous studies of children have ...
Physical activity enhances children’s quantitative development within middle childhood, supporting growth toward healthy strong people, physically and psychology. Middle childhood is documented as being between the ages of six to ten years old. A lack of physical activity affects children across all areas of development; it is not restricted within the domain of physical development. Discussed within are the expectations of motor development within middle childhood, the benefits of physical activity and the consequences of prolonged inactivity. Along with how a student’s physical development facilitates or restricts development in other areas and how the learning environment can accommodate and support the physical needs of students.
Whitman, Nate. "Physical Activity in Schools Is Essential to Reversing Childhood Obesity." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 03 Oct. 2013. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
In our society today one of the most difficult problems we are facing is the large numbers of obesity in our children. One of the major factors in that is this; our children have become less physically active. At an early age children start watching TV, learn how to operate a computer, and play video games. Having technological skills is now a necessity in all of our lives because everything has turned “computerized,” but the fact is that our children are relying on these types of entertainment rather than getting up and physically exercising to entertain them selves. This directly affects the large number of obese children in our country today because of the lack of physical exercise. It is not that we want our kids to look a certain way or to be better at sports than everyone else, but it is that we want our kids to be physically fit and to develop a healthy lifestyle. Physical exercise is not only for adults, it is for children as well, so we must understand the importance of our children exercising and the benefits from it. By doing that it will make an impact on that child for the rest of his/her life.
Physical education exists in schools to help students perform physical activity in schools and promote healthy lifestyles. It is extremely important that physical education teachers promote physical activity and healthy diets to young students because they are the ones who will be at risk of developing health issues such as obesity. Physical educators need to teach the younger generation the proper way to stay healthy so that they will continue to be physically active outside of phys...
Play gives the opportunities for children to develop both individual gross and fine muscle strength. Many people experiencing health problems from being overweight, we have a responsibility to encourage physical activity in young children.
“Children who exercise regularly have higher levels of self-esteem.” (Brown, W.J. & Brown P.R., 1996, p19). Teaching Physical Education can have immediate health benefits as it helps normalise body weight and body composition. Physical activity also promotes positive mental health. Both immediate outcomes may be useful in motivating physical activity practices so that they have long term benefits. One of the main benefits of physical activity is that “it keeps children involved and that it invariably makes you feel good.” (Brown, W.J. & Brown P.R., 1996, p19). Getting the correct amount of Physical activity in school hours will decrease the rates of obesity and will reduce the risk of diabetes, asthma, heart disease and other health related illness’. Regular exercise for children also helps their cardiovascular health and bone development. There is also evidence that Physical Activity has a positive effect on mental health in children, including reducing anxiety and depression and improving their mood. However, there is some evidence that for children who don’t enjoy Physical Education it can have a negative impact on their self-esteem and
Physical education provides a variation of motor skills aimed to enhance the physical, mental, social and emotional development. The obesity statistics of 2009 quantified that childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since 1980 and in addition to concerns regarding chronic diseases, overweight and obesity incidences have even led to poorer levels of academic achievement (Taras & Potts-Datema, 2005). Additionally, in order to teach students the importance of preventing these ailments, those who oppose the amount of time in physical education or want to cut it out altogether should reconsider. Instead, time in physical education should be as equal as core subjects are seen. Physical education can help children in the classroom as well. The physical educator can incorporate math or science in to their lessons. If they are jump roping, they can skip count...