Little Bodies, Big Energy: How Childcare Help Children Move More Every Day
Kids seem to be made of energy – and this is a very good thing because it means your young child is healthy. They are made this way for a reason. During their first few years, your child will grow, absorb, and develop more than at any other time in their life. They need all that energy to keep up with all the development and learning they need to do.
While plenty of energy is a good sign, it can be difficult to find ways to keep children busy so they will continue to move enough to effectively regulate all of this energy. At good childcare centres like Gingerbread Kindergarten, we understand how important it is for your young child to get enough movement.
We have a program that ensures that everyone enrolled moves enough while they are spending time at our childcare centre. Here’s how we achieve this.
Why Movement is so Important for Children
Movement is about so much more than blowing off steam or burning energy. Active movement plays a huge role in the physical and emotional well-being of children, and it even holds the key to their ability to learn and understand complex concepts. Here are the reasons why movement should be part of every educational system.
- strengthens muscles and helps develop strong bones
- strengthens mental health by spending time outdoors in nature and natural greenery
- boosts social development as children function in teams and play together
- assists with coordination and motor development by engaging in various activities
- supports brain development and focus while improving the attention span
- regulates emotions by balancing hormones and combating overstimulation.
Ways Our Childcare Centre Helps Children Stay on the Move
At Gingerbread Kindergarten, we have many physical activities for children incorporated into our daily schedules. Many of the activities and even lesson plans are specially developed to help children stay active. Here’s how we accomplish this.
Obstacle Courses
Children adore obstacle courses because they are so fun. The climbing, crawling, jumping, rolling, and swinging motions are all great for physical development. While these courses are physical, they are also very stimulating since they help children develop problem-solving skills. Social skills are also enhanced when children are engaging and interacting as a team.
Music and Movement
You will often hear music or singing drifting from Gingerbread Kindergarten. Music is part of our extracurricular activities because it enhances memory and focus. Along with the music and singing, children are also encouraged to dance. This promotes rhythm and balance.
Active Learning
A lot of lesson plans involve active movement like hopping, crawling, stretching and running. This is a strategic concept since tiny humans have yet to develop the ability to sit still and concentrate for long periods of time. Active learning sessions are good for the body and make it easier for youngsters to retain information without feeling frustrated.
Cleanup and Tidying
At Gingerbread Kindergarten, children are also taught responsibility. Cleaning up after themselves, packing away toys, and assisting with chores also helps little bodies stay active. These tasks are especially good for developing their fine motor skills and help develop good social habits.
Plantening Vegetables and Learning about Nature
Gardening programs are not just for learning about the environment. Planting vegetables is probably one of the best activities to have at a childcare centre because it offers so many benefits. One of the best benefits is that these tranquil activities outside in nature help children calm down after being overstimulated. The active work, like digging and planting, also boosts their physical health and is great for improving large motor skills.
Sports and Yoga
Naturally, our childcare program also includes some sports activities and yoga lesson plans. The sports and yoga sessions offer many benefits, from social development to improved physical health to coordination and teamwork.
Enrol at Gingerbread Kindergarten: Early Learning Centre for children aged 0-5 years
If you are looking for childcare that prioritises movement and play-based learning, consider Gingerbread Kindergarten. Our early learning centre is focused on helping children become enthusiastic learners, and this includes a lot of focus on play. We have one of the best school readiness programmes available with extracurricular activities that can give your child the best possible start.
Gingerbread Kindergarten currently has childcare centres in Bondi Junction, Castle Hill, and Norwest. Look for one of our local childcare centres and book a tour, or enrol your child and become part of the community.