16 June 2015: Getting children moving at an early age so they live healthier, longer lives, is the aim of a new resource developed by University of Canberra researchers.
The Physical Literacy Activities Yearbook (PLAY) comprises 200 activity suggestions to help teachers prepare and deliver fun physical education for primary school students. It includes warm up activities and tasks using objects such as balls, beanbags, hoops, bats and music and will be used for the first time in the ACT as part of the Active Kids Challenge.
- Media opportunity: Mr Rattenbury, Dr Keegan and Ms Bailie will join Year 5 students from Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School, Amaroo in some PLAY activities from 12.30pm-1.00pm TODAY
PLAY was created by researchers from the University's Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE) with funding provided by ACT Sport and Recreation Services and has been mapped onto the ACT curriculum. It also contains opportunities to learn core subjects like science and English in an active way.
Project co-ordinator Richard Keegan said it's important to develop physical literacy — or being ready, willing and able to move preferably from an early age — to avoid health problems caused by inactive lifestyles later on, such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some forms of cancer.
"We wanted something that encourages a love of movement - as opposed to sporting prowess or cardio-vascular fitness - that teachers can deliver without an expert looking over their shoulder," Dr Keegan, an assistant professor in sport and exercise psychology at the University of Canberra, said.
"According to research conducted in both Australia and America, children receive less than half an hour of physical education each week —well below the 30 minutes per day identified in the school curriculum. If we can get teachers feeling confident delivering physical education then children will enjoy it, and this will stay with them for life," he said.
The University of Canberra has partnered with the Physical Activity Foundation who will deliver the PLAY resource to primary schools across the ACT as part of the 2015 Active Kids Challenge, an eight-week program designed to inspire and motivate children to get 60 minutes of activity every day.
"We know the importance of developing great activity habits early in life extends beyond health and well-being outcomes," chief executive of the Physical Activity Foundation Lucille Bailie said. "Active kids are more engaged in the classroom, they develop positive self-esteem and confidence, along with valuable social and emotional skills."
"We are delighted to be able to use this great resource to help get kids active throughout the challenge, particularly with recent statistics showing one in four ACT children aged 5-17 years is considered obese or overweight," she added.
"It's really important that we encourage kids to live healthy, active lives. The PLAY resource and the Active Kids Challenge are a great way help kids enhance their physical literacy and form good habits for life," Minister for Sport and Recreation Shane Rattenbury said.
The resource is also being used in a trial in Victoria, with UCRISE receiving more than $250,000 to delivery physical literacy in primary schools in metropolitan Melbourne.
The resource will be available to Active Kids Challenge Schools in early July from www.paf.org.au
The Active Kids Challenge will be held from 27 July-18 September with more than 20,000 ACT primary school children in over 800 classrooms taking part.
- Mr Rattenbury, Dr Keegan and Ms Bailie are available for interview
WHAT: Launch of Physical Literacy Activities Yearbook (PLAY) resource
WHEN: Wednesday 17 June, 12.30pm-1.00pm
WHERE: Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School, Burdekin Avenue, Amaroo (meet at front office)
Contact the University of Canberra media team:
Amanda Jones: 0409 140 415
Claudia Doman: 0408 826 362