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Physical Activity in Early Childhood Education and CareLaajuus (3 cr)

Code: SO00CK66

Credits

3 op

Teaching language

  • Finnish

Responsible person

  • Timo Hintikka
  • Maija Jylhä

Objective

The aim of the course is exploring the significance of physical activity in promoting the child's holistic growth and development and learning to plan and guide goal-oriented physical activity situations that support the child's participation with groups of children at early childhood education and care and pre-primary education age.

Competences:

Competence in social client work
Critical and Inclusive Social Skills

Intended learning outcomes:

You know how to work in a child-centered manner and support the child's growth and development in different environments in a goal-oriented manner, emphasising the importance of physical activity and exercise.

You know how to promote children's inclusion and opportunities for participation in physical activity situations.

Content

The core content of the course includes recommendations for children's physical activity and the objectives of physical activity in early childhood education and care. Additionally, forms of physical activity suitable for a child's level of development in different environments and an understanding of the impacts of physical activity on promoting a child's perceptual motor, motor, socio-emotional and cognitive skills. The course includes planning and guiding physically activity sessions for groups of children of day-care centre and preschool age.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

You understand the impacts of physical activity on improving a child's perceptual motor, motor, socio-emotional and cognitive skills. When planning physical activity situations, you describe their objectives and contents from the perspectives of supporting the child's holistic development and inclusion as well as equal participation.

Further information

The course is part of studies in early childhood education and care and social pedagogy work (60 credits in total). The course is compulsory for those following the study path of early childhood education and care.