Childhood Centres

Sport Southland can assist your Early Childhood Centre (ECC) with implementing more physical activity into your daily routine. A key document that tends to help ECC's implement physical activity into their daily routine is a Physical Activity policy. It doesn't have to be a lot of work, but once you have this document and endorse it with staff and parents physical activity will become an integral part of the child's day. To see an example of a Physical Activity Policy please CLICK HERE

Recommendations For Early Childhood Centres

How To Incorporate Active Movement

1. Possess the Active Movement image. Seeing the child as a unique, confident and competent active mover will ensure the setting and experiences that are co-created reflect this.

2. Provide the Active Movement context. Positive experiences that underpin the social and cultural influences of children, family and whanau, and community will be more relevant, empowering, inclusive and meaningful.

3. Value and plan for Active Movement. Having Active Movement domain knowledge and being committed to implementing Active Movement will ensure the setting is one where children are encouraged to value, care for and respect themselves and each other, are affirmed individuals and have the opportunities to contribute. When staff are in tune with where children are at, the teachable moments will be captured.

4. Playful and Active Role Models. Successful acquisition of fundamental Active Movement skills is dependent upon the involvement of the positive and knowledgeable active educator. Learning is fostered through responsive and reciprocal relationships between teacher and child.

5. Recognise the Holistic Learning In Active Movement. What outwardly appears to be physical experience for children is actually interwoven with the cognitive, social, cultural, emotional and spiritual dimensions of learning and growing.

6. Promote the Use of Te Reo and Tikanga. Encourage the use of Te Reo Maori in Active Movement experiences. For example, translate familiar words, instruction and directions. Explore and experience the arts associated equipment. For example: poi, rakau, waiata and haka movements and understand the sacredness of these.

7. Involve the Family and Community In Active Movement. Cultivate the sense of unity and identity between family and whanau through moving and learning together. Share knowledge of the games and activities of the diverse cultures in the centre