📒Physical Activity Promotion Policy (QA2) (video needed)

National Quality Standard (NQS) - Quality Area 2: Children's health and safety

Implementation

Educators will implement the Federal Government’s Physical Activity Guidelines including the 24 hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years which recommend: 

• Infants (birth to 1 year) engage in physical activity from birth eg floor-based play several times a day including at least 30 minutes of tummy time for non-mobile babies spread throughout the day
• Toddlers (1 to 2 years) engage in daily physical activity for at least 3 hours spread throughout the day
• Pre-schoolers (3 to 5 years) engage in daily physical activity spread throughout the day including at least one hour of energetic play.

 In line with this, Woodlands Sunbury will implement the following promotion of physical activity as per the age and developmental stage of each child in attendance:

• Children younger than two years of age should not spend any time watching television or using other electronic media (DVD’s, computer and other electronic games).
• For children two to five years of age, sitting and watching television and the use of other electronic media (DVD’s, computer,s, and other electronic games) should be limited to less than one hour per day, and only where educationally appropriate.
• Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers should not be sedentary, restrained or kept inactive for more than one hour at a time- with the exception of sleeping

Educator’s will:

• Encourage children to participate in physical activities through programming and spontaneous experiences.
• Encourage and support children to undertake and participate in new or unfamiliar physical activities
• Participate in physical activity with the children
• Show enthusiasm for participation in physical activity and organise play spaces to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all individuals in the environment
• Set up and plan for physical play activities and equipment and where appropriate encourage the children to help with the set-up
• Listen to children’s suggestions on what physical activities they would like to participate in and where appropriate incorporate them into the program
• Set up indoor and outdoor areas in a manner that promotes and encourages safe physical play for all age groups and developmental abilities represented in the centre
• Actively encourage children to accept and respect each other’s range of physical abilities
• Consult with families and resource agencies on providing physical experiences that reflect diverse backgrounds and abilities
• Role model appropriate footwear and clothing for physical activity
• Ensure a balance of active and sedentary activities throughout the child’s day and minimise sedentary behaviours unless the child is tired or ill

The  service will support the children in:

• Learning to use increasingly complex motor skills and movement patterns in order to combine gross and fine movement and balance skills, spatial awareness, and problem-solving skills.
• The development of their physical skill set by providing regular opportunities for outdoor play
• The development of their physical skill set by talking with the children about how the human body and how important physical activity is for an individual’s health and wellbeing
• The development of their physical skill set by providing experiences for the children that draw on elements of dance, dramatic play, and creative movement
• The development of their physical skill set by providing babies with encouragement and safe areas to practice rolling over, sitting, crawling, standing and walking