An active lifestyle has a large impact on overall well-being and health. This lesson will introduce you to the importance of physical activity for children, families, and staff. You will begin to explore resources related to physical development and physical activity.

Although each individual develops at a unique pace, there are milestones that are achieved by most children at certain ages. This lesson will provide a brief overview of physical development to help you in your work with staff members. You will learn how to help staff members recognize and respond to developmental alerts.

Children and youth are active every day, and there are many ways in which staff members can promote optimum physical development. This lesson will help you understand developmentally appropriate physical activities for children from birth to age 12. You will learn how to help staff members create spaces that promote physical activity. Finally, you will learn from exemplary programs that are promoting physical development.

Fitness does not just happen in gyms and on playgrounds. Fitness is a way of life. Part of your program’s mission is to help promote an active lifestyle. This is important for you, staff members, children and families. This lesson will provide ideas and resources for promoting active lifestyles in your program, homes and communities.