Early Childhood | Physical Activity and Early Childhood Development
The early years of life have the most impact on healthy brain and body development. The first three years in particular is a very sensitive time and children need positive environments to support positive stimulation for optimal brain growth. Brain development enables children to develop all of the skills they need for later life. Reading, singing and talking to children from birth helps them to build reading, writing and speech skills as well as develop the foundations for positive social and emotional wellbeing. Active play and healthy eating habits from birth helps the body, bones and brain to grow. The social interactions associated with active play also help children to develop social, emotional and mental stability.
Children learn and thrive through active play
Did you know?
Children engaged in outdoor structured or unstructured play will learn:
- Motor skills such as weight transfer, balance and jumping, which are used by adults to maintain active, healthy lifestyles
- Communication and interaction skills as they negotiate game rules with peers, resolve conflicts and take turns
- Language and literacy skills as they create story scripts around their actions, negotiate rules and learn left/right discrimination
- Mathematical and science skills as they judge and adjust distance and speed, and judge relative size and sequence size.
Source: Stronger Families Alliance Blue Mountains City Council 2010; Child and Family Plan |
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 Love Talk Sing Read Play provides further information on the following messages that demonstrate the importance of play for early childhood development:
Play is vital to all aspects of healthy development for children.
Play is a cherished part of childhood and playing is fun.
Children learn by playing.
Deep connections form between parents and children when they play together.
Some children’s play should be child-driven and unstructured.
Everyday activities can be play and safe objects found in the home can be playthings.
For further information on early childhood development from Families NSW click here Source: Families NSW "Love Talk Sing Read Play" family handbook
 The Power of Play resource provides further information on the importance of Active Play and Early Childhood Development. It provides practical games and examples of self and group playtime for babies and toddlers up 36 months / 3 years including common questions and answers around engaging children in active play.
Early Childhood Quicklinks:
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