Why is movement so important to ensuring young children's smooth overall development? How may their physical skills be supported by adults? And what are the implications for practice? Answering these questions and more, this book clearly demonstrates the link between physical competency and emergent literacy and numeracy. The first half introduces the eight core principles of movement-based learning. It explains why movement plays such a critical role in children's development and how physical activity underpins the skills that support effective communication and school-readiness. The second suggests ways in which they may be implemented in practice with all children from birth to five years. All children need to be confident and competent movers, effective communicators and ready to tackle the challenges of new experiences and environments. This book will provide the knowledge and tools to ensure that they are.

Presents an evidence-based manual of diagnosis and interventions for helping children between three and six years old who lack a complete range of fundamental movement skills. This book explores the notion of a developmental coach, suggesting that parentsand carers are the most appropriate individuals to fill this role.

A best-selling text, Understanding Motor Development: Infants, Children, Adolescents, Adults provides students and professionals with both an explanatory and a descriptive basis for the processes and products of motor development. Covering the entire life span, this text focuses on the phases of motor development and provides a solid introduction to the biological, affective, cognitive, and behavioral aspects within each developmental stage. The student is presented with the most up-to-date research and theory, while the Triangulated Hourglass Model is used as a consistent conceptual framework that brings clarity to understanding infant, childhood, adolescent, and adult motor development.

Getting young children active and supporting their physical development right from the start is essential for children’s all-round development and good health. However, children’s levels of physical activity are declining. This book helps readers increase their understanding to support young children’s overall development, health, and wellbeing. Breaking current physical activity guidelines into bite-size chunks, the book provides key advice on caring for and educating babies and young children on how to meet the recommended amount of physical activity each day. Current research is accessibly explored, including links with screen time and neuroscience, and informs a range of flexible, open-ended activities and practical strategies to use in every early years setting. Chapters include: Suggestions on planning an enabling environment to support young children’s physical development without expensive equipment or classes. Steps for making physical activity inclusive for all children, including those with special educational needs and physical conditions. Key research translated into easy-to-understand, informative guidance. The voice of the child and the importance of listening to children woven throughout. Opportunities for readers to assess how their own setting supports physical activity. The importance of early physical development to communication and future academic performance. Grounded in best practice for supporting physical development in the early years and working with parents, this book is essential reading for trainee and practising early years educators, as well as parents and carers of young children.

′[T]his second edition book is a welcome contribution to the early years literature base, providing much needed information and a somewhat innovative response concerning how effectively to translate the Early Years Foundation Stage into practice′ - Early Years `This second edition of Learning in the Early Years has been fully updated to bring it in line with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage...The presentation and style...is very readable and accessible and as such the book provides an excellent resource for students and experienced early years practitioners alike′ - Early Years Update Praise for the First Edition: `It was a joy to read this book... This book provides a wealth of ideas for reflection, as well as guidance to promote knowledge and skills essential in early years teaching.′ Dario Pellegrini, Educational Psychologist `I found it hard to put it down. I particularly liked the way it followed through into Key Stage 1′ - Who Minds `An important contribution to difficult work′ - Elizabeth Quintero, The Steinhardt School of Education, New York University This fully updated Second Edition of ′Learning in the Early Years 3-7′ has been written to support early years practitioners understand and implement the new curriculum guidance document ′The Early Years Foundation Stage′ (DfES, 2007). In this book, Jeni Riley clearly explains how to meet the requirements of the EYFS document and how this relates to the National Curriculum and the Primary National Strategy: Framework for teaching for literacy and mathematics. Offering informative and inspirational guidance on planning learning and teaching opportunities across the curriculum, this book will help you to promote social, intellectual, aesthetic, spiritual and physical development in your setting. Topics covered include: - appropriate and lively ways of working with young children - developing subject knowledge - supporting children for whom English is an additional language - the role of adults when interacting with children to support learning - the place of information and communications technology - the transition between the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. The book also draws on recent research on child development, on how babies think and on effective learning and teaching for children aged 3-7. All early years students and practitioners will want to have this book to hand to guide them through the new guidance and to support them daily to implement successful practice. Jeni Riley, Reader in Literacy in Primary Education, Institute of Education, University of London.

This book focuses on improving well-being among young children. It provides a theoretical base explaining why physical activity is important, and offers practical strategies for increasing health and well-being in early childhood settings. It takes ancient wisdom on the mind and body connection, applies it to the youngest children, and supports it with current empirical and international evidence—all with an eye toward improving wellness across the lifespan. The many topics discussed in the book include children’s motor skills, movement, interaction, physical literacy, the use of video games, dog ownership, developmental delays, as well as strategies to improve physical activities in the classroom and broader contexts. In recent years, children’s health has become a priority worldwide. Topics such as “screen time” “sedentary behavior” and “childhood obesity” have become important issues everywhere- in the news, in schools, in community and commercials settings, and among health care providers. Limiting sedentary behavior, increasing physical activity, and maintaining a nutritious diet are three fundamental needs during early childhood. Preschool years are a time when children begin to explore the world around them, and develop more vivid understandings of their surroundings. As this book shows, the early years may be the best time to teach wellness concepts and assist young children in establishing healthy lifestyle habits.

The Early Years Handbook for Students and Practitioners is a comprehensive and accessible course text for all degree level students undertaking programmes related to early years and childhood studies. Designed and written by the SEFDEY Professional Association and a team of new expert contributors, this text provides a balanced approach to the subjects discussed and encourages you to consider and challenge perceptions of early years and to promote good professional practice. This edition has been extended to cover the learning and development of children from birth to 8 years and features new chapters on research, risk, neuroscience, the environment and more. Divided into four parts - The Student-Practitioner-Professional; The Learning and Development of Children 0-8; The Child, Family and Society; and The Senior Practitioner-Professional - the book covers all aspects of working with young children and engages you with theory that is explicitly linked to your practice. In each chapter, the book seeks to help you develop your professional identity and includes: Activities to help you to reflect on your own practice Debates and dilemmas to promote discussion between students and colleagues Real-life case studies and photographs to illustrate key points Extended "reflective thinking" boxes outlining key research in the field and implications for practice Suggestions for key projects to help those looking for research topics The book is supported by a companion website featuring, for students, links to useful websites and video material, and an interactive flashcard glossary. Online support for lecturers includes ideas for tasks and activities to use in class and the diagrams and images in the book available to download.

Master the knowledge and skills you need for the new classroom-based CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator) qualification. Written by expert Carolyn Meggitt, this is the only textbook for classroom-based learners endorsed by CACHE for the qualification. As ever, Meggitt's approachable writing style makes learning the key concepts both easy and enjoyable, and you can be sure she provides you with the information you need for your course. This book will support you through your assessment and the start of your career. - Understand all the requirements of the new qualification fully with clearly stated learning outcomes and key terms - See how concepts are applied in real settings with numerous case studies - Demonstrate what you've learned with activity boxes which give you the opportunity to check your understanding and apply it in the work setting - Prepare for examinations and assessment with confidence via activities linked to assessment criteria

This important new text is a comprehensive survey of current thinking and research on a wide range of developmental disorders. Highlights key research on normal and typical development Includes clinical case studies and diagrams to illustrate key concepts A reader-friendly writing style