Are you involved in caring for or educating babies and young children either as a practitioner in the workforce or as a parent? In this free course, Supporting physical development in early childhood, you will learn how to ensure young children do enough physical activity and how it improves child mental and physical health development.
As you explore the holistic health and developmental benefits of physical activity, you’ll learn low cost, effective ways of ensuring babies and young children meet the 180 minutes per day of recommended activity. You’ll also find out how physical activity can improve child mental health and wellbeing, as well as contribute to the prevention of childhood obesity.
This course draws on research and expertise from academics from early childhood, sport and fitness at The Open University and Active Matters, and Angela Baker, Children's & Health Inequalities, Coventry City Council.
Interested in taking your learning further? You might find it helpful to explore the Open University’s Early Years courses and qualifications.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- identify the importance of movement skills to the overall health, wellbeing and development of young children
- explore the relationship between physical growth and development
- describe the body systems and their relationship to moving and learning
- identify the appropriate physical/movement activities for each age and stage of development from 0-5 years
- explore how parents and practitioners can work together to support the physical development of all children.
First Published: 18/12/2023
Updated: 18/12/2023