Early Childhood Standards of Quality for ... - State of Michigan

ELE: Physical Development and Health3. Participate actively and on a regular basis, in games, outdoor play, andother forms of exercise that enhance physical fitness.Examples of Experiences and Strategies• Many opportunities are provided for children to play outdoors in bothstructured and unstructured activities; such experiences offer bothcooperative and solitary play.• Children experience active learning time with repeated opportunities formovement each day, both indoors and outdoors.• Children are encouraged to experiment with music and movement; e.g.,moving with objects, expressing their creativity, learning to control theirbodies.• Children have a variety of times to play--alone, with peers, or with adults.• Children are helped to understand what their body can do and areprovided with activities that help them gain control and balance; e.g.,kneeling, curling into a ball, stretching.• Children engage in games and outdoor play activities that enhancecoordination, balance, and over-all physical wellness.• Both families and staff encourage natural movement of children andencourage many different ways to move and test their bodies.• Teachers initiate and model movement and join children in their play.• Adult conversations use appropriate names of body parts, and whenpossible, dual language or visual clues for English language learners.• Adults listen to children as they describe their own methods of movement.• Teachers demonstrate their own healthy approach to movement andphysical development.• Adults model health and safety practices and direct children’s attention towhat they are doing.• Adults take primary responsibility for maintaining a safe and healthyenvironment and also teach children by example and practice.• Space for movement and experiences outdoors incorporate both naturaland human-made materials.Questions for Reflection1. To what degree do adults move and join children in their play,conversations, and physical movements?2. What adaptations are available for children with varying abilities so that allchildren can participate?Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Prekindergarten 97