Kids with more Zip
One in five Australian children is obese and fails to get enough physical activity each day. But University of Southern Queensland (USQ) movement specialist Alice Brown's new book encourages teachers to put the fun and ‘Zip' back into physical activity.
Alice has co-authored the book Kids with more Zip with Perth author and physical education expert Joanne Landy.
The book aims to arm teachers and child care workers with a fun, practical and user-friendly guide to supporting children's opportunities to move.
Alice said that although there are many ‘traditional style' physical education texts on the market, few are practical enough to inspire the teacher or early childhood educator to integrate physical activity into the day.
'The aim of Kids with more Zip is to inspire teachers and children to move and be active as well as focussing on a healthy mind and body,' Alice said.
'Some children are really being turned off by heavily teacher directed ‘sergeant major' approach to physical activity and we as a society and as educators need to reconsider how we present opportunities to move.
'Children are not mini-adults. Children simply obtain their fitness by doing activities that they enjoy. It's about providing children with possibilities for exploring and moving with their bodies during play, work, creative expression and daily tasks.'
Alice said that educators need to present physical activity in a way that children will connect with and be able to sustain on a daily basis as well as being something they want to do in the future.
In July 2007 the Queensland Government introduced the Smart Moves-Physical Activity Program. Alice says Kids with more Zip can be used as a practical answer to the Queensland Governments' directive.
'Teachers and childcare workers can integrate activity into the day, and do it before the kids even realise they have exercised.'
The book contains both a theoretical element and a practical guide in a user-friendly format.
It also includes fun illustrations, movement and health tips, and explores new and contemporary approaches to movement and lifestyle habits.
'Instead of being just another book of movement activities or ‘recipes' for movement with children, Kids with More Zip wraps the ‘movement moments' around richly grounded and positive habit-forming principles,' she said.
With more than 20 years experience as a teacher, presenter and lecturer specialising in early childhood Alice brings a great wealth of knowledge to her new book Kids with More Zip particularly in the area of contemporary, creative and empowering movement opportunities for children.
The book will be launched at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, April 30 at the USQ Bookstore (sponsored by the Faculty of Education). It will also be launched on Thursday May 8th at Creative Classroom Supplies (Level 2-559 Ruthven Street)
Members of the community are welcome to attend.
Media Contact: Connie-Louise Rego, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2977