Walk through the jungle, hunt for the bear, or do the animal bop this Book Week! Acting out stories is a wonderful way to encourage active play with your child.
“Parents and educators are amazing role models to show how valuable and fun active books can be,” Play Active Chief Investigator, Professor Hayley Christian said.
“Reading together and pretending to be part of the story really brings the adventure to life, and helps children connect with caregivers.”
Active reading can provide much needed bursts of energetic play to your child’s day. When children get enough energetic play every day it improves their behaviour, impulse control, concentration, mood, social, and physical skills.
How much energetic play is enough? The Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years recommend that young children aged 2-5 should:
- Spend at least three hours a day in a variety of physical activity, including one hour of energetic play for 3-5 year-olds. More is better!
- Not be restrained for more than one hour at a time, and sedentary screen time should be less than one hour per day. Less is better!
Research from The Kids Research Institute and partners has identified that only one in ten Australian Children aged three to five are getting the recommended amount of daily energetic play. This has informed the development of The Play Active program, a national evidence-based program to ensure children are getting enough energetic play in early childhood education and care settings.
A big thank you to the Better Beginnings program for their help compiling this brilliant list of active books.
Download the list of active books and enjoy them with your little one today.