Promoting Physical Development and Wellbeing in Early Childhood: Practical Ideas and Activities for Early Years Settings

Getting young children active and supporting their physical development right from the start is essential for children’s all-round development and good health. However, children’s levels of physical activity are declining. This book helps readers increase their understanding to support young children’s overall development, health, and wellbeing.

Breaking current physical activity guidelines into bite-size chunks, the book provides key advice on caring for and educating babies and young children on how to meet the recommended amount of physical activity each day. Current research is accessibly explored, including links with screen time and neuroscience, and informs a range of flexible, open-ended activities and practical strategies to use in every early years setting. Chapters include:

• Suggestions on planning an enabling environment to support young children’s physical development without expensive equipment or classes.
• Steps for making physical activity inclusive for all children, including those with special educational needs and physical conditions.
• Key research translated into easy-to-understand, informative guidance.
• The voice of the child and the importance of listening to children woven throughout.
• Opportunities for readers to assess how their own setting supports physical activity.
• The importance of early physical development to communication and future academic performance.

Grounded in best practice for supporting physical development in the early years and working with parents, this book is essential reading for trainee and practising early years educators, as well as parents and carers of young children.

Jackie Musgrave is part of the Early Childhood at The Open University team. Jackie trained as a Registered General Nurse and then a Sick Children’s Nurse, working in a range of different paediatric specialisms, including working as a Paediatric Asthma Nurse in the community. She started her teaching career in Further Education before moving into teaching Higher Education in 2005. Her research brings together her interests in children’s health and early childhood education. Jackie has numerous publications related to child health and early childhood education.