Action Kids 121 2nd Edition
121 Physical Development with Fun Activities for your child or small groups of 2 and 3 year olds

By Val Sabin (2007)

This manual contains 121 activities specially designed for one-to-one physical development activity interaction between a parent, carer or other adult and child. Parents attending Action Kids Clubs with their children have often referred to continuing the physical fun activities at home and this manual has many ideas for parents, carers, childminders, grandparents, uncles, aunts and indeed any other adult looking after a child or a small group of younger pre-school children.

PIAGET, the famous psychologist and biologist highlighted the importance of sensory-motor intelligence developed in infancy through motor-skill development and integration. There is now greater recognition that movement is essential to learning and is the foundation for a child's later ability to abstract, generalise and analyse the surrounding world, communicate with others and develop emotionally in a stable way.

Research studies show a strong link between regular physical movement and exercise using all the senses for children and their build up of learning strategies and patterns for later successful academic achievement. The physical development activities can also progress emotional awareness, cognitive development and social skills.

A sensitive approach by a parent or other adult using the ACTION KIDS 121 activities promotes the development of locomotor skills, manipulative skills, physical fitness, co-ordination and balance in enjoyable ways for the child. Additionally, there are many opportunities for children to increase their abilities to listen, concentrate, comprehend, focus and experience feelings of success and achievement as they improve their physical capabilities and fitness.

This comprehensive and user friendly manual and library of physical development with fun activities has been specially designed for pre-school children at home, in playgroups or in nurseries. Containing 121 activities or groups of activities which are suitable for individuals, pairs or small groups it is accompanied by 38 pieces of original music on a CD.

There is extensive guidance and the detailed activities are progressively arranged in each section in an easy-to-apply framework. Therefore, it is easy to organise and plan programmes of activities for different groups and preparation time is cut to a minimum. Thus greater precision and clarity in long, medium and short term planning is possible.

There is information for guidance on differentiation, co-ordination and balance, mobility, spatial awareness, manipulative and aiming skills, outdoor and indoor resources, equipment and safety.

The activities are grouped into sections on:- Copying and Role-Play; Words and Actions; Clapping; Moving and Stopping; Moving on Different Body Parts; Using Tools; Using a Ball; Balancing and Steering; Using Small Equipment; Large Apparatus; Shapes; Wiggling and Wriggling; Moods, Emotions'and Rhythms; Matching, Grouping, Sorting and Filling, Parachute play; Quiet. Alphabet-related images which can be photocopied for children to colour-in also run throughout the publication. There are roleplay, water, sand and table-top activities as well as opportunities for carpet area, indoor and outdoor play. The ELGs for Physical Development and links to all other areas can be addressed and assessment recording sheets are included.