Early Childhood

 


Active Movement


What is Active Movement?

Sport Waitakere is passionate about ensuring that children build their fundamental movement skills right from the day they are born. “Active Movement” is a SPARC initiative that can be found implemented in Early Childhood Centres, Pacific Island Language Nests, Kohanga Reo and in many homes throughout the country. Through Active Movement children learn the building blocks for more complicated movements such as those required for playing sport, gymnastics and dance. Through fundamental movement skills children also help to build vital brain connections that will assist them to grow to their full potential.

Fundamental movement skills include the following skills:
• Locomotor skills – moving from one location to another e.g. running, hopping, jumping
• Stability Skills – enable us to balance whilst standing still or moving e.g. rolling, landing, rotations and spinning skills
• Manipulative skills - include catching, throwing and kicking skills
• Body awareness skills – knowing how big my body is and how it fits in space

For children in the 0-2 year age group we encourage parents & caregivers to attend the Wriggle & Rhyme programme offered in each of the 7 Waitakere libraries. To go straight to the Wriggle and Rhyme page click here.

For children in Early Childcare Centres the Fundamental Movement Skills Advisor provides support to centres to develop activities that will support the development of these skills.

There are 14 Activity guides and 2 DVD's for under fives. To request these Active Movement Resources please click here. 

For other resources, please click here and go to the 'Under 5's tab'. 


For more information you can contact: Pauline Butt, Active Movement Adviser
DDI: 09 966 3117; mobile: 027 282 7029; email: pauline.butt@sportwaitakere.co.nz



 

Learning Story

The Importance of Water Play in Children’s Development.

Children learn some very important concepts during play with water. Team this up with some important safety messages and you will be helping your children to keep themselves safe in and around water.

When playing with water children learn:

  • That water can be fast moving, powerful and dangerous.
  • That some things float and some things sink in water.
  • How to breathe in air and blow bubbles out.

Some of the activities that you can do at your centre or in the home are:

  • Using a hose to wash things down shows children how powerful water can be.
  • Pulling the plug out of the bath or sink and allowing children to sense the power of the water going down teaches them that water can pull them in directions.
  • Placing objects that can float or sink in the bath teaches children that things that are light or full of air can float but things that are heavy will sink. This means that if you are in the water you need to be able to float or to grab something that can float.
  • Blowing bubbles through a straw teaches children that we breathe air in and we blow out to make the bubbles.
  • Bath or shower with your children to give them confidence.
  • Teach your children to kick or float in the bath.

Some important safety messages:

  • Always watch your children near water – this includes the water trough, bath, beach or pool. Watching means you are doing nothing else!
  • Always maintain hand contact with a child under 1yr.
  • You should always be within an arms distance of children under 8 years.
  • Wear a lifejacket when out in a boat.
  • Check the marine weather forecast and surf conditions before you go fishing or boating.
  • Wear light warm clothing and sneakers when fishing off the rocks. Wear a lifejacket.
  • Swim between the red & yellow flags at the beach.

Water play will NOT give your child a cold – viruses cause colds!!!

Links to resources for use in your centres:

Major Funders