British Heart Foundation National Centre – Manifesto for physical activity in the early years
20 January 2016
Manifesto for physical activity in the early years Being active regularly is good for all of us, but for the under fives it can be vital to their future health and wellbeing. Ninety-one percent of children aged 2-4 are currently not meeting the UK physical activity guidelines for their age group of three hours of activity a day. This means that they are missing opportunities to positively benefit their health and establish healthy behaviours that carry on into adulthood. Being physically active at a young age is proven to support brain development, enhance bone health and muscular development as well as have non-physical benefits to social and cognitive skills development and emotional wellbeing. In order to ensure that every child has the opportunity for the best start in life the British Heart Foundation National Centre (BHFNC) and its Early Years Advisory Group has today launched its manifesto for physical activity in the early years. This sets out the Centre’s key asks to ensure every child has access to high quality physical activity opportunities from birth. The BHFNC is calling on politicians and policy makers to embed early years into physical activity policy nationally, regionally and locally to ensure that physical activity is supported across the UK at home, in early years settings and in the community. Within this supportive policy environment, the BHFNC has four key asks. 1. Awareness
Comprehensive awareness raising, to ensure health and education professionals and families are aware of, and act upon, the Chief Medical Officers’ physical activity guidelines for the early years (2011). 2. Education
Greater emphasis on the importance of physical activity across the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, alongside clear guidance and training for early years practitioners on how to promote and develop children’s physical activity. 3. Environment
All children in the early years should have safe, stimulating and accessible physical activity and active travel opportunities in their community. 4. Health
Health professionals should track the physical activity levels of children in the early years alongside other health behaviours. These results should be shared with parents whilst supporting them to take positive action to increase physical activity levels among their children. Director of the BHFNC, Elaine McNish said: “This manifesto outlines how we can create an environment for our children that encourages them and stimulates them to be active. This manifesto is a call to policy makers to ensure that early years settings are supported to create active environments. We know that active children are more likely to become active adults so it’s vitally important to get it right at the beginning to give children opportunities to play from a young age and develop a lifelong love of being active.” Lisa Young, Project Manager, Prevention & Behaviour Change at the British Heart Foundation said: “We know that physical activity is an important component of a healthy lifestyle for everyone and the under fives are no different. Developing a love of being active from a young age is important as we know active children become active adults and active adults are healthier adults. As a nation we need help to recognise the importance of physical activity for early years and the contribution this makes to general health and heart health in the future.” The best start in life – A manifesto for physical activity in the early years can be downloaded HERE. Sue Wilkinson, afPE Strategic Lead said: “The Association for Physical Education (afPE) is proud to be associated with the ‘Best Start in Life’ manifesto which the BHFNC has been instrumental in leading and creating. We strongly support the four key asks in the manifesto. afPE believes that physical activity should be encouraged and be a fundamental entitlement for every child from birth. In particular we advocate that babies should have 1000 hours of floor-based play as well as water-based activities in a safe environment. In addition, we too promote early years physical activity and support that it should be embedded into all physical activity policy. We also believe that pre-school children should be active for a minimum of 3 hours a day. To support this manifesto, afPE and 1st4sport has launched an early years level 3 certificate, in ‘Supporting physical development and physical activity’ with the sole purpose of providing an effective and structured programme and qualification for the early years workforce. This will help to promote and develop the principles of lifelong health and well-being for children, their parents and carers, in early years settings.” Mike Crichton, afPE Chair said:
“I am delighted that an Early Years Manifesto has been launched regarding the importance of physical activity for the very youngest children. As the manifesto title states: The Best Start in Life; not only should we encourage the best start in life for our young people, but we definitely need to encourage a habit for life. The four key principles of the manifesto: Awareness, Education, Environment and Health fall in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage principles of: the unique child, positive relationships, enabling environments and learning and development. I am hopeful that the manifesto will remind families, early years settings, communities and training providers of the importance of regular physical activity for all children in their early years. I also hope that it will provide families and practitioners with the stimulus, guidance, education and encouragement that supports early years children in recognising how a healthy and active lifestyle will help their well-being now and in later life.”
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