Significance of Physical Movement in Early Childhood Education and Care

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to outline the importance of physical movement in an Early Childhood Education and Care setting (ECEC) and to create a tool that shares this knowledge with the ECEC personnel. The target audience of this thesis are personnel in ECEC and the larger ECEC community which includes parents and guardians of children in ECEC. The objectives of the thesis were carried out by researching the recommendations and benefits of physical movement in children and by creating a booklet that features practical ways to meet these requirements in the ECEC setting.

The need for the thesis was highlighted after recent studies showed that children's lives were becoming more sedentary, and children’s health was being compromised. The research from this thesis is applicable for all ages in the ECEC, however, the focus of the activities presented in the booklet has been for 5 – 7-year-old children. This thesis was conducted as a portfolio styled development work and the reporting took place by applying Bulb digital portfolio-platform. The report and output of this thesis has been published in bulb and Theseus for ECEC unit’s application and the larger ECEC community.

This thesis delves on the profound importance of physical activity in the ECEC and how this is explicit for holistic development. Illustrating the theory through a practical physical booklet gives a credible tool for ECEC personnel. It can be concluded that, implementing the fundamentals needed to lead a physically active life at a young age can improve the overall health and well-being of future generations.