Encourage children to use the vocabulary of movement, such as 'gallop' and 'slither'; of instruction, such as 'follow', 'lead' and 'copy'; and of feeling, such as 'excited', 'scared' and 'happy'.
Help children communicate through their bodies by encouraging expressive movement linked to their imaginative ideas.
Talk with children about body parts and bodily activity, teaching the vocabulary of body parts.
Help children to think about how their movements and actions can impact on others.
Pose challenging questions such as "Can you get all the way round the climbing frame without your knees touching it?".
Talk with children about the need to match their actions to the space they are in.
Encourage children to be active and energetic by organising lively games.
Provide opportunities for children to repeat and change their actions so that they can think about, refine and improve them.
Help children to be aware of risks and to consider their own and others' safety.
Take time to review individual needs for space and equipment for a child who may require modifications to either or both.
Show children how to collaborate in throwing, rolling, fetching and receiving games, encouraging children to play with one another once their skills are sufficient.
Health and Bodily Awareness
Promote health awareness by talking to children about exercise, its effect on their bodies and the positive contribution it can make to their health.
Help children to understand the thinking behind the good practices they are encouraged to adopt.
Be aware of specific health difficulties among the children in the group, such as allergies.
Be sensitive to varying family expectations and life patterns when encouraging thinking about health.
Find ways to involve children so that they are all able to be active in ways that interest them and match their health and ability.
Discuss with children why they get hot and encourage them to think about the effects of the environment, such as whether opening a window helps everybody to be cooler.
Using Equipment and Materials
Encourage children's large arm and hand movements and activities that strengthen their hands and fingers, for example, throwing and catching.
Introduce and encourage children to use the vocabulary of manipulation, for example, 'squeeze' and 'prod', and the language of description, for example, 'spiky', 'silky', 'lumpy' and 'tall'.
Justify and explain why safety is an important factor in handling tools, equipment and materials, and have sensible rules for everybody to follow.
Teach skills where necessary and then give children the chance to practise them.
Teach children how to use tools and materials effectively and safely.
Talk with children about what they are doing, how they plan to do it, what worked well and what they would change next time.
Acknowledgements
Disclaimer
00012-2007CDO-EN