Promoting Physical Activities in Early ChildhoodCOURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to the Promoting Physical Activities in Early Childhood course. This program will equip you with the knowledge, developmental understanding, and practical strategies required to promote age appropriate physical activity for infants, toddlers, and young children. You will explore what physical activity means in early childhood, why movement is essential for physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development, and how early

COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Promoting Physical Activities in Early Childhood course. This program will equip you with the knowledge, developmental understanding, and practical strategies required to promote age-appropriate physical activity for infants, toddlers, and young children. You will explore what physical activity means in early childhood, why movement is essential for physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development, and how early learning settings can create environments that support exploration, play, and healthy growth. This course also examines attention development, outdoor learning, sensory play, and the importance of designing movement-rich routines for children of different ages.

This course begins by examining what physical activity is, what physical activity for young children means, and why it is critically important during early childhood. You will explore the consequences of insufficient activity, the developmental characteristics of infants, toddlers, and young children, and how much physical activity children need each day. This section also examines learning within physical development, activities suitable for children under three, play materials for babies, how to play with babies, and play games that stimulate all baby senses. You will explore why babies and toddlers require space to move, what early learning means, what exploratory play involves, how babies learn through treasure basket experiences, and how heuristic play supports sensory and cognitive development.

The next learning area focuses on physical play and activities for children over three. You will explore the importance of space for movement and exploration, how music and dance sessions enrich physical and sensory development, and how children learn through constructional play. This section also explains the benefits of involving children in daily routines, how hands-on arts and crafts activities support toddler and young-child development, and the potential learning gained from obstacle-course play. You will also explore the importance of outdoor play, ideas for using outdoor environments in early childhood settings, and why weather should not restrict children’s outdoor experiences.

A further learning area examines physical activity and attention development. You will explore how movement supports children’s capacity to focus, how attention develops across early childhood, and how babies under one year are easily distracted. This section also examines how toddlers develop more fixed attention, how young children become more flexible in their attention, and how children aged four and older demonstrate double-focus attention. You will also explore attention deficit disorder (ADD) and other causes of attention difficulties, helping you recognise when children require additional support.

Another learning area focuses on integrating physical activity into daily early childhood practice. You will explore how physical activity connects to holistic development, how to plan movement-rich environments, how to facilitate exploratory and constructional play, and how to encourage children to learn through participation in practical routines. This section also examines how to select appropriate play materials, structure movement opportunities indoors and outdoors, and support children as they develop balance, coordination, strength, and body awareness.

The final learning area explores the educator’s role in promoting consistent, meaningful physical activity. You will examine how to design movement experiences that accommodate different developmental stages, how to encourage curiosity and exploration, how to adapt activities to children’s interests and abilities, and how to create inclusive environments that support children with diverse physical and attention-related needs. This section also highlights the importance of educator engagement, observation, and planning in shaping positive attitudes toward active living.

By the end of this course you will be able to understand the developmental importance of physical activity in early childhood, plan effective indoor and outdoor movement experiences, support infants, toddlers, and young children as they explore and learn through play, recognise how physical activity influences attention development, and create a responsive, movement-rich environment that encourages healthy growth, confidence, and lifelong wellbeing.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:

• What is physical activity?
• What does physical activity for young children mean?
• The importance of physical activities in early childhood
• The consequences of a lack of physical activity in early childhood
• The characteristics of Infants
• The characteristics of Toddlers
• The characteristics of Young Children
• How much physical activity do children need each day?
• Learning within physical development
• Activities with under threes
• Play materials for babies
• How to play with babies?
• Play games for all baby senses
• Why babies and toddlers need space to move?
• What is ‘early learning’?
• What is ‘exploratory play’?
• How babies learn with the treasure basket?
• How babies learn with heuristic play?
• Physical play and activities for over threes
• The importance of space to move and explore
• How babies, toddlers and children enjoy different kinds of music and dance sessions?
• How children learn through constructional play?
• The benefits for children helping out in the daily routine of your setting
• How toddlers and very young children like and can benefit from hands-on arts and crafts activities?
• The potential learning from play with an obstacle course
• The importance of outdoor play
• Ideas for using outdoors in your setting
• Why weather should not be used as an excuse to restrict children’s outdoor play?
• Physical activity and children attention
• The development of attention in children
• How babies under one year are easily distracted?
• How toddlers have more fixed attention?
• How young children have more flexibility in attention?
• How children of four years and older have double focus attention?
• Attention deficit disorder (ADD)
• The other causes of attention difficulties

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.