The importance of being active
Children need regular, daily physical activity. This activity can be shared with whānau in a fun way.
Kids need regular physical activity
Watch the following video and consider the key messages about the relationship between brain development and physical movement.
Movement
Regular physical activity is essential for brain development.
There are three themes to movement:
- Stability – balance
- Locomotion – walking, running, jumping
- Manipulation – the ability to manipulate an instrument, for example, a bat or a crayon.
To acquire skills, children:
- first make the discovery
- then develop it through practice
- finally master and perform it without needing to think about it.
Active kids need active whānau
Children learn best when they’re having fun. The guideline from the Ministry of Health and Sport New Zealand is that children under 5 should have 30 minutes of physical activity a day.
It doesn’t have to be all at one time – ‘snack-tivities’ are fine (little bits throughout the day).
Conversation ideas
Helpful resources for whānau
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Sit Less, Move More, Sleep Well: Active play guidelines for under-fives
MInistry of Health
These guidelines provide population health advice to support health practitioners, early childhood educators, regional sports trusts and others who provide advice to parents, caregivers and whānau or families on physical activity for children under five years of age.
