Physical Fitness

January 9, 2010

Physical Fitness is important to young children because if they do not keep moving then they can have a wide variety of health related problems Some of the problems they can have are poor circulation, lack of physical fitness or movement in general can lead to obesity in children of all ages. A sedentary life is not good for anyone but for children a childhood spent sitting can lead to a life of problems in health, their social life, and family surroundings. Children that are overweight can and usually do have poor self esteem and are ostracized by their peers.
Adults can help the children they care for by being a good role model and sharing their excitement for putting movement into the daily routine. If we come in each day and want to play movement games inside or outside with our children then they will want to come up with more games that can be played. The children I know love to run and chase each other and there are games that can be played inside when weather is inclement.
Activities that can be played that will help the preschoolers learn to enjoy physical fitness are for gross motor are Copy Cat- this is a game that has the children coping another child’s or adults movements. The movements can be made up by the children as the game progresses. It is non competitive and is fun and get the children involved in the rule making.
A good activity for fine motor for preschoolers is cutting activities where they can practice holding the scissors, turning the paper, and following lines of various designs. You will start with a straight line and gradually move to harder designs.
The inspirational quote that I feel says to me this is why I chose to work with young children is:” A child miseducated is a child lost by John F. Kennedy and I picked this because it is so true in the fact that we need to teach them appropriately and if we put excitement into our teaching then it will hopefully stay with them for life. This is also another quote that I think is good for me-Instruction ends in the school room, but education ends only with life.: by Frederick W. Robertson and this one is also true because we never stop learning and we also teach someone in some way throughout our lives.
Physical fitness is important to children because it effects their whole body and mind and we as adults need to foster children joy in playing and teach them that sitting and watching television or playing electronic games is not healthy for the mind or body as it can lead to obesity, developmental delays and a host of other problems.


References:
Robertson, C. (n.d.). Safety, nutrition, and health in early education (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Goodway, J.D. & Robinson, L.E. (2006, March) SKIPing toward an active start: Promoting physical activity in preschoolers. Retrieved on January 9, 2010 from http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200605/GoodwayBTJ.pdf
Inspirational Quotes: retrieved on January 10, 2010 from http://www.inspirational-quotes.info/teacherquotes.html