Educating the Student Body

Educating the Student Body
Author: Committee on Physical Activity and Physical Education in the School Environment
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 503
Release: 2013-11-13
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0309283140

Physical inactivity is a key determinant of health across the lifespan. A lack of activity increases the risk of heart disease, colon and breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, osteoporosis, anxiety and depression and others diseases. Emerging literature has suggested that in terms of mortality, the global population health burden of physical inactivity approaches that of cigarette smoking. The prevalence and substantial disease risk associated with physical inactivity has been described as a pandemic. The prevalence, health impact, and evidence of changeability all have resulted in calls for action to increase physical activity across the lifespan. In response to the need to find ways to make physical activity a health priority for youth, the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Physical Activity and Physical Education in the School Environment was formed. Its purpose was to review the current status of physical activity and physical education in the school environment, including before, during, and after school, and examine the influences of physical activity and physical education on the short and long term physical, cognitive and brain, and psychosocial health and development of children and adolescents. Educating the Student Body makes recommendations about approaches for strengthening and improving programs and policies for physical activity and physical education in the school environment. This report lays out a set of guiding principles to guide its work on these tasks. These included: recognizing the benefits of instilling life-long physical activity habits in children; the value of using systems thinking in improving physical activity and physical education in the school environment; the recognition of current disparities in opportunities and the need to achieve equity in physical activity and physical education; the importance of considering all types of school environments; the need to take into consideration the diversity of students as recommendations are developed. This report will be of interest to local and national policymakers, school officials, teachers, and the education community, researchers, professional organizations, and parents interested in physical activity, physical education, and health for school-aged children and adolescents.

Moving with a Purpose

Moving with a Purpose
Author: Renee M. McCall
Publisher: Human Kinetics
Total Pages: 252
Release: 2000
Genre: Education, Preschool
ISBN: 9780880119764

Grade level: k, t.

Kids Active

Kids Active
Author: Christina Duff
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2018
Genre:
ISBN:

Introduction: Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are basic movement patterns that form the building blocks of physical activity (PA). The preschool years (ages 3-5) represent an important time for the development of FMS and healthy PA behaviours and the childcare setting plays an important role in this. Low levels of PA and FMS have been demonstrated for preschool children internationally, though research in Ireland has not yet focused on this age group. Objectives: The main aim of this study was to design and evaluate an educator-led FMS and PA (through active play) intervention for preschool children in services participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme. Additionally, this study aimed to investigate current levels of PA and FMS of preschool children in this setting during ECCE hours. Methods: The pilot programme was delivered to 42 educators from 18 services. Data were collected by trained researchers from 141 children in 9 preschool services (5 intervention, 4 control) in March 2016 (pre-intervention) and June 2016 (post-intervention). Accelerometry was used to collect PA data and FMS proficiency was measured for four skills using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2) (Ulrich, 2000). All educators who received the programme and those from the control group completed the CAN-Teach questionnaire (Derscheid et al, 2014) pre-and post-intervention (n=32) to measure confidence to teach PA. Results: At baseline, boys aged 3 were the most active with 46.9% meeting PA recommendations. Gender and age influenced PA, with boys more active than girls and younger children more active than older. Mastery or near mastery of FMS ranged from 4.9% (throw) to 88.4% (run). Post-intervention, intervention educators achieved significantly higher confidence scores than control educators. All children decreased sedentary behaviour (SB) and increased PA, with the intervention group significantly decreasing SB (-7 minutes) while the control group increased SB (+2.1 minutes) in hour two of the three-hour ECCE day. Children in the intervention group significantly increased scores in the throw compared to control group (increase of 1.3 vs 0.1). Conclusion: Increases in educator confidence highlights the potential for increasing educator confidence to deliver PA and FMS opportunities in ECCE services through training. Although PA changes were small, significant differences in the throw show potential for the Kids Active programme over a longer time frame. Further research, including a qualitative component, is warranted to gain greater understanding of how to influence PA behaviour and FMS development in ECCE.

Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8

Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 587
Release: 2015-07-23
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0309324882

Children are already learning at birth, and they develop and learn at a rapid pace in their early years. This provides a critical foundation for lifelong progress, and the adults who provide for the care and the education of young children bear a great responsibility for their health, development, and learning. Despite the fact that they share the same objective - to nurture young children and secure their future success - the various practitioners who contribute to the care and the education of children from birth through age 8 are not acknowledged as a workforce unified by the common knowledge and competencies needed to do their jobs well. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 explores the science of child development, particularly looking at implications for the professionals who work with children. This report examines the current capacities and practices of the workforce, the settings in which they work, the policies and infrastructure that set qualifications and provide professional learning, and the government agencies and other funders who support and oversee these systems. This book then makes recommendations to improve the quality of professional practice and the practice environment for care and education professionals. These detailed recommendations create a blueprint for action that builds on a unifying foundation of child development and early learning, shared knowledge and competencies for care and education professionals, and principles for effective professional learning. Young children thrive and learn best when they have secure, positive relationships with adults who are knowledgeable about how to support their development and learning and are responsive to their individual progress. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 offers guidance on system changes to improve the quality of professional practice, specific actions to improve professional learning systems and workforce development, and research to continue to build the knowledge base in ways that will directly advance and inform future actions. The recommendations of this book provide an opportunity to improve the quality of the care and the education that children receive, and ultimately improve outcomes for children.

Motor Development and Movement Activities for Preschoolers and Infants with Delays

Motor Development and Movement Activities for Preschoolers and Infants with Delays
Author: Jo E. Cowden
Publisher: Charles C Thomas Publisher
Total Pages: 348
Release: 2007
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0398085153

Thoroughly revised and updated, this second edition continues to present both a theoretical and practical approach to motor development and adapted physical activity programs for preschoolers and infants with delays or disabilities. Written from a broad perspective, the authors use easy-to-understand language so that families, caregivers, students, and teachers may provide instruction utilizing the ecological dynamics of various environments. Chapter topics include: motor development, organization of the nervous system, muscle tone, medical and biological considerations (including prematurity and low birth weight, drug exposure, and autism spectrum disorders), assessment, principles of intervention, and multi-sensory activities. This new edition identifies the effects of Autism Spectrum Disorders on sensory dysfunction and provides activity interventions to be used by movement specialists. Additionally, the book explains the principles of motor development and answers questions related to positioning, lifting, carrying, and feeding of young children. Practical suggestions and activities are provided for families and professionals to enhance sensory-motor development of the young child during structured motor intervention and throughout the day. Generously illustrated, this comprehensive book is an excellent resource for adapted physical educators, early interventionists, and caregivers in motor development for young children with delays or identified disabilities. It will additionally serve as a reference for individuals developing motor programs for older children, particularly children with severe sensory-motor delays.