GETTING THE WIGGLES OUT… …WITHOUT A LOT OF WIGGLE ROOM! Incorporating Movement Activities for PreschoolAged Children in Small Spaces Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save.
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GETTING THE WIGGLES OUT… …WITHOUT A LOT OF WIGGLE ROOM! Incorporating Movement Activities for PreschoolAged Children in Small Spaces Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it. - Plato “We are underexercised as a nation. We look instead of play. We ride instead of walk.Our existence deprives us of the minimum of physical activity essential for healthy living.” ~ John F. Kennedy, 1961 “Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” Fit kids are smart kids! Childhood obesity – a weighty issue Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, approximately 1 in 5 four-year-old children in America is obese. WHY? Why should we include movement activities in our library programs? Movement is essential to young children’s development! Physical movement is part of the foundation of mental and physical growth. (Bev Bos, 125) Why increase physical activity? Helps learning – cognitive, social-emotional Development of motor skills Builds confidence Improves basic skills It’s fun! PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Is it developmentally appropriate to expect young children (2-4 years old) to sit still for 30+ minutes at a time? Is it healthy? Is it desirable? Young children learn with their bodies – (sensorimotor) – movement helps children understand abstract concepts & vocabulary SITTING STILL IS OVERRATED. -Tom Hunter Children (especially preschool-aged) naturally have lots of energy and enthusiasm – they move because they NEED to! Many are not given appropriate physical outlets for this abundant energy! (spend many hours sedentary - sitting, waiting, standing in line, watching tv, sitting in car seats) even older children –sitting in school all day, some without recess or P.E.… Preschool children need at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity AND at least 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity each day! The most dangerous form of sitting, however, is sitting still and for long periods of time. Fig. 1: If a body is permanently inactive, brain activity is reduced. MANY preschoolers are KINESTHETIC learners Staff may ask, “What should I do ‘when squirmers won’t sit still!’”? Get all of the children moving together throughout storytime rather than SQUELCH them as they learn the way they do best. -From Early Literacy Storytimes @ Your Library This 1950’s Bookmobile Librarian was on to something! Storytime outside the Bookmobile- Notice how she does not require that they all sit still or lined up in neat rows…I love this! And… S T R E T C H …way up high! ACTION RHYMES Inside the BookWagon (a very small space!) It is not difficult to add stretches and movement activities to your current library programs, especially those attended by very young children. Get those wiggles out! Tune into children’s behavior – their restlessness should send a message that you need to take a break from what you are doing Change the pace BEFORE children need it – Triple A strategy (Anticipate, Act, Avert) Empathize with children’s restlessness – For example, “I like what we’re doing, but I think I need to get up & get my wiggles out…” Use props (streamers, beanbags, etc.) as motivators PARTICIPATE in the stretching activity yourself! Give children guidelines before stretchers – For example, “when I give signal, we will stop…” Resettle children after stretch - From Transition Magician SPARK! Sports, Play & Active Recreation for Kids 3 All-Day Training Workshops held for Early Childhood teachers & caregivers 8 Equipment Sets purchased for checkout by child care centers, preschools, Head Starts, & in libraries www.sparkpe.org Transform listeners into participants! Engage children with Appropriate physical activities Active storytime (book selections) Stretching, songs, fingerplays, action rhymes (“I’m a little teapot”) Older children – games Other suggestions? Storytime Stretchers Animal Walk You can add more movement and exercise very simply… using no extra equipment, things you already have at your library, or things you can obtain at little or no cost. Many children’s books lend themselves to active participation, whether by acting out the movements during the story or interpreting the actions afterwards during a stretch break. ACTIVE Storytimes! If we do these, they will be able to (WANT TO) sit longer & for longer stories – develop attention span & self-regulation Implement movement activities safely and in a manner that encourages appropriate behavior and sustained attention to stories and early literacy activities In order to have self-control, a child first needs a physical sense of self (Learning where their bodies begin & end) Naming body parts, pat-a-cake, fingerplays, hand-clapping games Each time you do these types of activities, you are helping children develop these skills BODY AWARENESS/ SPACE AWARENESS We must not prevent children from running but show them how to run with consideration for others –Bev Bos (122) Get them Moving… Watch them Learning! YOUR Brilliant Ideas? Thoughts Feedback Suggestions Opinions Victoria Penny, Early Childhood Services Coordinator First Regional Library www.firstregional.org [email protected]