We’re Going to Have a ball! Presentation Overview

1. Physical Activity Resource CentreConference 2006…Making it Happen!Physical Activity and the Early YearsChrista Costas-Bradstreet Sue Weststrate

2. We’re Going to Have a ball!Presentation Overview • Best Start Resource Centre • Introduction to Have a Ball! A Toolkit for Physical Activity and the Early Years • What the Research Says… • Resources • Great Ideas for Great Balls of Fun! • Fact Sheets for Professionals and Parents

3. Best Start Resource Centre • Consultations • Training, workshops, annual conference • MNCHP Network • Resources • Member of OHPRS • www.beststart.org • www.meilleurdepart.org

4. Have a Ball!…The Resource • Purpose • Partnership • Advisory Committee • Environmental scan • Needs assessment with EL & CC sector • Research and design • Focus test at pilot sites • Training needs assessment • Next steps • Toolkit contents

5. What the Research Says…

6. …about the benefits of physical activity Physical: • Increases energy and improves stamina • Encourages muscle growth and helps develop strong bones • Helps maintain a healthy weight • Makes the heart and lungs stronger • Maintains a healthy blood pressure • Increases flexibility • Improves coordination • Helps improve sleeping habits • Helps improve eating habits

7. Psychological/Emotional: • Reduces anxiety • Prevents, reduces, combats depression • Enhances psychological well-being • Improves our ability to deal with stress • Helps us feel good about ourselves

8. Academic: Helps • increase concentration • improve memory • enhance creativity • improve problem-solving skills/abilities • enhance learning

9. Social: • Teaches important skills such as sports skills and life skills • Provides opportunities for children to socialize and make friendships, and practise self-discipline • Decreases the likelihood of using tobacco, alcohol and drugs in the teen years and beyond • Develops positive lifelong attitudes toward physical activity • Encourages healthy family engagement

10. …about the relevance of physical activity for young children • Movement is an important part of a child’s physical, mental and emotional development and one of the important mediums through which young children form impressions about themselves and their surroundings. • Activity satisfies a child’s curiosity of movement.

11. Physical activity can help young children feel good about themselves. • Games and activities encourage interaction among children. • Enjoyable physical activity experiences promote a positive attitude about active lifestyles and may carry over into adulthood.

12. Young children solve problems and gain success through challenges and explorations • The best time for basic movement development is during the early years • There is a strong connection between motor competence and self-esteem among very young children.

13. ….about how active children are • Children today are 40% less active than they were 30 years ago. • In 2000, over half of Canadian children and youth, aged five to 19 were not active enough for optimal growth and development. • Forty percent of Canadian children already have developed at least one risk factor for heart disease – reduced fitness due to inactivity.

14. …about the obesity epidemic • Between 1981 and 1996, there were dramatic increases in overweight and obesity in children ages seven to 13. The prevalence of boys who were overweight increased from 15% to 28.8% and among girls from 15% to 23.6%. • The prevalence of obesity in boys nearly tripled from 5% to 13.5% and more than doubled in girls from 5% to 11.8%. • There is reason to believe that these figures underestimate the actual numbers.

15. Obese children are five to seven times more likely to become obese adults than non-obese children. Children who were obese at age six had a fifty percent chance of becoming obese adults. • Sedentary lifestyles are a major contributing factor to the development of obesity in children and adolescents.

16. Ontarians aged two and up spent almost 21 hours a week watching TV. Children between the ages of two and 11 specifically, watched an average of 14.5 hours a week. This does not include time playing video and computer games or using the Internet. (Stats Canada, 2002) • Half of Canada’s children and youth are spending two to four hours per day watching television. (Tremblay and Willms, 2003). • Children who watch television more than two hours per day are more likely to be overweight and obese. (Tremblay and Willms, 2003).

17. Canadian children and youth rank among the highest in the world for computer use. Nearly half of our kids spend three or more hours on the computer per weekend day alone.

18. …about children with a disability • Canadians with a disability are less likely than other Canadians to participate regularly in physical activities. • A person with a disability might gain the following benefits:- Improved physical stamina and self-confidence bring greater independence- Controlled weight loss and increased strength aid with strength and mobility- Enhanced circulation reduces the possibility of blood pooling and swelling in limbs- Improved posture decreases aches and pains

19. An inclusive environment is one that provides the opportunity for children of all abilities and interests to participate in all activities. Inclusive environments recognize the inherent value of each child, the right to take risks and make mistakes, the need for independence and self-determination, and the right to choice.

20. In an inclusive program: • Activities are modified and individualized as necessary • Expectations are realistic yet challenging • Assistance is provided only to the degree required • Dignity of risk and availability of choices are respected and fostered Zindler-Wenett & Weiss (1987)

21. A Bleak Future? “Because of the increasing rates of obesity, unhealthy eating habits, and physical inactivity, we may see the first generation that will be less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than their parents” (U.S. Surgeon General).

22. One Solution: Active Start Active Start: A Statement of Physical Activity Guidelines for Children Birth to Five Years The U.S. National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)

23. Guidelines for Infants Guideline 1 Infants should interact with parents and/or caregivers in daily physical activities that are dedicated to promoting the exploration of their environment. Guideline 2 Infants should be placed in safe settings that facilitate physical activity and do not restrict movement for prolonged periods of time.

24. Guidelines for Infants (2) Guideline 3 Infants’ physical activity should promote the development of movement skills. Guideline 4 Infants should have an environment that meets or exceeds recommended safety standards for performing large muscle activities.

25. Guidelines for Infants (3) Guideline 5 Individuals responsible for the well-being of infants should be aware of the importance of physical activity and facilitate the child’s movement skills.

26. Guidelines forToddlers and Preschoolers Guideline 1 Toddlers should accumulate at least 30 minutes daily of structured physical activity; preschoolers at least 60 minutes. Guideline 2 Toddlers and preschoolers should engage in at least 60 minutes and up to several hours per day of daily, unstructured physical activity and should not be sedentary for more than 60 minutes at a time except when sleeping.

27. Guidelines forToddlers and Preschoolers (2) Guideline 3 Toddlers should develop movement skills that are building blocks for more complex movement tasks; preschoolers should develop competence in movement skills that are building blocks for more complex movement tasks.

28. Guidelines forToddlers and Preschoolers (3) Guideline 4 Toddlers and preschoolers should have indoor and outdoor areas that meet or exceed recommended safety standards for performing large muscle activities. Guideline 5 Individuals responsible for the well-being of toddlers and preschoolers should be aware of the importance of physical activity and facilitate the child’s movement skills.

29. Resources

30. Resources • Criteria for Resource Selection • Books and Manuals • Free Downloads • Reports • Videos and CDs • Websites • Nutrition Resources and Reports

31. Great Ideasfor Great Balls of Fun! Active Ideas

32. Just The Facts Fact Sheets for Professionals and Parents

33. Content[Fact Sheets for Professionals] • Kicking Things Off With a Healthy Self- Image • Have a Ball with Physical Activity • Let’s Not Drop the Ball When it Comes to Promoting Healthy Weights

34. 1. Kicking Things OffWith a Healthy Self-Image Topics include: • Definitions of self-image and self-esteem • A word about “body image” • Building Positive Self-image and Self-esteem involves… • Physical Activity and Self-esteem • When providing physical activity opportunities for children, be sure to…

35. 1.c. Building Positive Self-image and Self-esteem involves… • Providing nurturing, safe and loving environments for children • Being aware of self-esteem gender biases – a girl’s self-esteem is often linked to appearance, whereas a boy’s is more likely to be linked to talents and abilities • Avoiding the focus on body shape or size • Setting children up for success and helping them feel important • Showing you have confidence in them and focusing on the positive.

36. 1.d. Physical Activity and Self- esteem • The very young child is most likely to think about their worth based on family and physical experiences. For example, when a child says “watch me”, s/he is often demonstrating his/her ability to perform a physical skill. • A child believes s/he is successful at physical activity skills when s/he feels able to perform simple tasks (such as making contact with the ball); is trying hard; is learning a new athletic skill; is enjoying the activity; is receiving positive feedback and reinforcement from parents, teachers and coaches.

37. Physical Activity influences self-esteem because it: • Enhances creativity, problem-solving and academic performance • Improves self-discipline • Improves fitness levels which are related to positive mental health • Has a positive impact on behaviour and healthy lifestyle choices in later years.

38. 1.e. When providing physical activity opportunities for children, be sure to… • Make them fun • Keep them free of negative pressure • Keep them interesting • Set small but achievable goals • Incorporate activities that emphasize basic motor skill development, such as running, rolling, climbing, throwing, catching and kicking • Plan the activity in short bursts with frequent breaks.

39. 2. Have a Ball with Physical Activity Topics include: • Benefits of Physical Activity • Facts and Stats • Physical Activity Guidelines for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers • Physical Activity for all Abilities • Ten Tips for Having a Ball with Young Children

40. 2.d. Physical Activity for all Abilities • Use lighter, softer, larger balls • Choose shorter, lighter bats and racquets • Choose larger goals or target areas • Partially deflate balls for dribbling and kicking • Simplify games by having players drop the ball and catch it rather than asking that they bounce it consecutively • Use a smaller playing area to make it easier for all players to participate

41. 2.e. Ten Tips for Having a Ball with Young Children Excerpts include: • Be an active role model by participating in games, dancing, action songs and outdoor play. • Make physical activity part of the daily routine, just like lunch and nap time. • Display photos of the children being active. Put up posters depicting physical activity. • Use equipment that does not label by gender, such as balls, hoops, beanbags, etc. Use cooperative games that do not exclude anyone or ask anyone to sit out. • Build a child’s self confidence in p.a. by using praise, encouragement and positive feedback.

42. 3. Let’s Not Drop the Ball When it Comes to Promoting Healthy Weights Topics include: • Did You Know… • A word about body image • Energy Balance…a juggling act • Physical Activity • Healthy Eating

43. 3.d. Physical Activity • Educate children and parents about the importance of daily physical activity • Promote activities that use large muscle groups and encourage movement of the whole body • Ensure that children participate in vigorous forms of physical activity such as running, dancing, chasing a ball and jumping • Build p.a. into other aspects of the program. Do arts and crafts that require the children to move around • Make physical activity a daily part of the program.

44. 3.e. Healthy Eating • Provide water and milk to children and limit drinks with added sugars such as soft drinks, fruit drinks and sport drinks. 100% juice is a healthy choice for children but should still be limited to one-50 to 125 ml serving per day • Do not use food as a reward and avoid withholding food as a consequence of undesirable behaviour • Talk about food in a positive way • Involve children in planning and preparing meals/snacks • Promote healthy fundraising initiatives • Encourage parents to send healthy meals and snacks.