Communicating about Communicating about Physical Active Play for Physical Active Play for

Young ChildrenYoung Children(Insert your name here)(Insert your name here)

Communicating about Physical Active Communicating about Physical Active Play for Young ChildrenPlay for Young Children

This presentation is intended for trainers to provide detailed information about

communication and active physical play for young children.

The project was supported by the National Research Initiative of the USDA National Research Initiative Grant # 2006-55215-16726

The learner will be able to:

•Describe and understand appropriate ways of communicating about active play with caregivers and children.

•Use appropriate phrases to communicate with caregivers and children about the importance of active play.

Objectives

Principles of Effective Communication

• Communicating effectively is more than just sharing information; it is the basic foundation of all relationships.

Communicating with Caregivers

• Share information in a respectful way, that fosters regular, open communication.

•Adults don’t always see and do things the same way. Be willing to discuss and negotiate differences about how to accomplish shared goals.

What Active Play does for the Body

• Important for healthy brain development.

• Helps children improve and maintain fitness.

• Increases strength, flexibility and endurance.

• Helps to prevent and reduce excess body fat.

Other Skills Children Learn through Active Play

•What their bodies can do.•How to communicate.•Vocabulary.•How to follow directions.•The joys of movement.•Increased creativity. •More positive feelings about themselves.•Learning to share, cooperate and take turns.

Communicating with Families

• Building effective partnerships and working together for the good of young children can be both rewarding and challenging at the same time.

• Excellent providers strive to create and maintain an open, supportive, and interactive learning environment for children and families.

•Activity helps to maintain healthy weight.

•Play builds healthy, active bodies.

•Active play is important for overall well- being and longevity.

Phrases to Communicate with Caregivers about Active Play

More Phrases to Communicate with Caregivers about Active Play

•Daily activity is good for the mind.

•Activity is a great outlet to reduce stress.

•Daily activity is good for me and the children in my care.

Appropriate Communication with Children

•Appropriate activity information for young children is concrete.

Describe what active play does for the body!

Phrases to Communicate with Children about Active Play

Capture the Moment

• Walking makes your heart healthy and strong.

• Climbing is good for your bones.

• Dancing gives you good balance.

After you have given children some of the facts with the phrases, ask them about playing actively:

“You seem to enjoy jumping...tell me what you like about it?”

“How does active play make your body feel?”

Engaging Children to Speak about Active Play

What Works

Children will listen…. …if you use repetitive, descriptive, simple vocabulary to teach them the importance of active play.

Remember Communication is Key

It’s not just what you say…it’s also how you say it.

Be expressive, consistent, and correct!