FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

101 Tips for Increasing Physical Activity in Early Childhood

 Healthful Practices in Early Childhood Encourage Movement Habits

RESTON, VA, September 15, 2010 – Preschool children naturally love to move, explore and be active. Confining infants and young children to strollers, play pens, car and infant seats for hours at a time may delay development such as rolling over, crawling, walking and even cognitive development. Certainly such restrictions can begin the path to sedentary preferences and childhood obesity, warns the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). NASPE recommends all children from birth to age 5 should engage daily in physical activity that promotes movement skillfulness and foundations of health-related fitness (Active Start: A Statement of Physical Activity Guidelines for Children From Birth to Age 5, 2nd Edition).          

   NASPE Executive Director Charlene Burgeson says, "By providing age-appropriate physical activity experiences, early childhood caregivers can positively impact physical, intellectual and emotional development and plant the seeds for a lifetime of healthful practices and behaviors."             

   101 Tips for Increasing Physical Activity in Early Childhood, sponsored by Playworld Systems, serves as a go-to source for caregivers to find developmentally-appropriate movement opportunities and ways to maximize the environment for play. Caregivers will find how to:

• Be creative with equipment
• Make safety a priority
• Use play-to-teach social skills
• Provide instruction during structured play
• Integrate physical activity into existing curriculum
• Talk about and practice healthy eating
• Involve parents and families
• Employ existing resources             
     

   "Early childhood represents the "romance" phase for movement and play. It is so important to treat this period in life as exploratory and fun, in order to create a strong bond between child and play. In 101 Tips for Increasing Physical Activity in Early Childhood, NASPE creates a quick, easy to use source for anyone looking to help a child begin their play journey," says  Dr. Kwame M. Brown, Director, Head Start Body Start, National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play.

   NASPE encourages preschool and daycare providers, Head Start Centers, and others who work with preschool-aged children and early childhood development to order a copy of 101 Tips for Increasing Physical Activity in Early Childhood for all staff members and colleagues.          

   To receive a free copy of 101 Tips for Increasing Physical Activity in Early Childhood, send a stamped, self- addressed legal size (#10) envelope to: NASPE/101 Tips Early Childhood, 1900 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191. The brochure is sold in packages of 50 at $25 retail and $15 for AAHPERD members. For bulk purchases of 200+ copies, call 1-800-321-0789. Stock number is 304-10505. 

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Contact:
Paula Kun
pkun@aahperd.org
703-476-3461

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE’s 15,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, administrators, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare professionals in these areas. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs. It is the largest of the five national associations that make up the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). For more information, visit www.naspeinfo.org.

AAHPERD, an alliance of five national associations, six district associations, and a Research Consortium, provides its members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support, and programs to help practitioners improve their skills to further the health and well-being of the American public. It is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, recreation, fitness, dance, health promotion and all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. AAHPERD serves 20,000 members and has its headquarters in Reston, Virginia, 25 miles west of Washington DC. To learn more, visit www.aahperd.org.