Being Physically Active

Physically active play - Korikori

Children love moving! Movement and being physically active is an important part of everyday life.

It's important to find ways, every day, for children to use their large and small muscles. This allows them to gain increasing control over their bodies.

Physical activity promotes children’s mental and emotional health as well as their physical well-being.

 

Physically active play can help children to:

• develop large muscles, strength and balance
• develop flexibility and coordination including hand–eye coordination
• develop skills such as throwing, catching, hopping, skipping, climbing, balancing and more 
• develop awareness of space, such as over/under, in front/behind, on top/beneath, or inside/outside
• develop mathematical concepts such as long/short, big/small, or wide/narrow
• be confident in controlling their bodies and, in turn, learning their limits
• learn to cooperate and share
• understand that physical activity is fun and can release tension.

Te Whāriki: 
Exploration | Mana Aotūroa - Children begin to move their bodies increasingly confidently and challenge themselves physically.