Skip to content
Skip to main content

About this free course

Download this course

Share this free course

Supporting physical development in early childhood
Supporting physical development in early childhood

Start this free course now. Just create an account and sign in. Enrol and complete the course for a free statement of participation or digital badge if available.

7 Working with parents to encourage physical activity in children

Watch Video 5 in which practitioners, Karen and Nicola, explain how they plan physical activity for children with asthma and a child with complex medical needs. They also share some of their experience of how they work with parents of children who have a health consideration and additional needs. They emphasise again the importance of working with parents of such children in order to gain their trust and describe how they work with other professionals so that they can give the best support and care possible.

As you watch the video, think about the ways that your practice and policies can help to support physical growth and development of children with additional needs.

Download this video clip.Video player: Video 5
Copy this transcript to the clipboard
Print this transcript
Show transcript | Hide transcript
Video 5
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).

Practical ways of working with parents

In Video 6, Karen and Nicola discuss how their policies that support physical development and staff engagement with parents are important in making a welcoming setting that can develop positive relationships with parents.

Download this video clip.Video player: Video 6
Copy this transcript to the clipboard
Print this transcript
Show transcript | Hide transcript
Video 6
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).

It is important to ensure activities are inclusive and are aimed at all children and parents, so nobody feels as if they have been picked out for special consideration.

It is also important that when making suggestions and developing activities aimed at supporting physical development and activity that they are realistic and can be part of their everyday routine. Being aware of lifestyle factors and cultural differences are examples of how to be sensitive to parents.

Devising ways of educating parents about the importance of physical development and activity can be helpful. For example, one practical idea is to have a display board that includes information such as the Chief Medical Officer’s physical activity infographics (see Figure 2 in Week 3) and posters for parents and children to look at as they arrive and leave the setting.

Use the most effective way of communicating with parents to pass on information such as in newsletters or via an electronic communications system.

Encourage the local leisure centres and sport clubs to advertise family friendly activities in the setting.