Physical Activity Teacher Practices
How teachers use physical activity in a classroom shapes children's understanding of it.
The best practices (per GO NAPSACC) and the related resources in this section focus on how teachers use (or do not use) physical activity in discipline, child-staff interactions, routines, transitions, and activities. If the use of physical activity in a classroom is positive, children will be able to develop more positive outlooks on physical activity as a healthy choice.
Best Practices
Select each GO NAPSACC best practice goal below to find related resources.
"Teachers never take away time for physical activity or remove preschool children or toddlers from physically active playtime for longer than 5 minutes, as a way of managing challenging behaviors."
Action Guide: For Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies
Summary: A guide for creating policies including rationale, steps for creating policies, and policy recommendations.
Source: Connecticut State Department of Education
Behavioral Expectations and Positive Guidance
Summary: Age-appropriate positive guidance from birth to age 12.
Source: Utah Department of Health and Human Services
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the appropriate assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Model Policies for Creating a Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity Environment in Child Care Settings
Summary: Nutrition toolkit that describes model policies and provides tips to on how to fulfill them.
Source: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Community Food and Nutrition Assistance
Sample Child Care Physical Activity Policy
Summary: Example of a child care physical activity policy. It outlines the amount of expected daily play, roles of staff members, screen time, and appropriate clothing, and discipline.
"During preschool children’s physically active playtime, teachers supervise, verbally encourage, and regularly join in to increase children’s physical activity."
Brain-Building Through Play: Activities for Infants, Toddlers, and Children
Summary: Suggestions for games and play-based activities based on a child’s age that involve interactions and physical activity.
Source: Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the appropriate assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Infusing Physical Activity throughout the Child Care Day
Summary: Tips to incorporating age-appropriate physical activity, including a sample daily schedule for toddlers and preschoolers.
Source: Missouri Department of Health and Human Services
Mealtime Memo: Physical Activities in the Child Care Setting
Summary: Explains the importance of physical activity for children and gives activity ideas specifically for toddlers and preschoolers during indoor and outside play. Additional resources are included.
Source: Institute of Child Nutrition
"During tummy time and other activities, teachers always interact with infants to help them build motor skills."
Brain-Building Through Play: Activities for Infants, Toddlers, and Children
Summary: Suggestions for games and play-based activities based on a child’s age that involve interactions and physical activity.
Source: Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the appropriate assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Infusing Physical Activity throughout the Child Care Day
Summary: Tips to incorporating age-appropriate physical activity, including a sample daily schedule for toddlers and preschoolers.
Source: Missouri Department of Health and Human Services
Mealtime Memo: Physical Activities in the Child Care Setting
Summary: Explains the importance of physical activity for children and gives activity ideas specifically for toddlers and preschoolers during indoor and outside play. Additional resources are included.
Source: Institute of Child Nutrition
Serve and Return: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers
Summary: How to interact with infants and children to encourage their growth and development.
Teachers incorporate physical activity into classroom routines, transitions, and planned activities each time they see an opportunity.
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the appropriate assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Infusing Physical Activity throughout the Child Care Day
Summary: Tips to incorporating age-appropriate physical activity, including a sample daily schedule for toddlers and preschoolers.
Source: Missouri Department of Health and Human Services
Mealtime Memo: Physical Activities in the Child Care Setting
Summary: Explains the importance of physical activity for children and gives activity ideas specifically for toddlers and preschoolers during indoor and outside play. Additional resources are included.
Source: Institute of Child Nutrition
Moving Right Along...Planning Transitions to Prevent Challenging Behavior
Summary: Tips on how to plan and modify transitions, including gross motor activities.
Source: National Association for the Education of Young Children
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