Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/dance-movement-and-physical-education-buying-guide/5012386/
Child Care Information ExchangeDance, Movement, and Physical Education Buying Guide
by Roger Neugebauer
Despite the physical fitness mania gripping the baby boom generation, evidence suggests that today's youth are less physically fit, less aware of their bodies, and less attuned to rhythm and beat than any generation in recent memory. Early childhood programs have a unique opportunity to introduce children to the joy of movement through a properly designed and equipped curriculum. As one of the contributors to this guide observed, "Imagine the impact if in every child care and preschool every child were to exercise in a fun, age appropriate way every day. If this were to happen, children's attitudes toward fitness would be shaped to carry them for the rest of their lives."
Child Care Information Exchange surveyed a wide variety of vendors (listed at the end of this article) in the dance, movement, and physical education arenas for this guide. Their recommendations on questions to consider in purchasing are summarized below.
- Do the materials provide a high ratio of child-led versus teacher-led usage?
- Can all children in the class participate, whatever their level of development?
- Are the children able to do all the movements and singing involved?
- Will the music/movement stand ...