Playgym Gets Under 5s Moving
Thursday 15 February 2007, 12:58PM
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Takapuna, Auckland – Sport and Recreation Minister, Trevor Mallard today launched PlayGym, a movement philosophy from GymSports New Zealand, to assist in the brain and body development of children under 5 years.
The PlayGym initiative is aimed at growing healthy, active and social adults. Supporting the initiative at the launch was Jude Dobson, producer of the “N0ught to Five†television series and Sue Younger, Chairperson of the Brainwave Trust. 70 people from health, early childhood education and sport attended the launch at the award winning Takapuna Kindergarten. 40 children and the attendees got involved in a PlayGym movement spectacular with Tas Evans, expert PlayGym practitioner.
Funded by SPARC (Sport and Recreation New Zealand), GymSports NZ has developed the first in a number of resources for early childhood educators, new entrant teachers and sports with programmes for young children.
“Play Gym is a marvelous “how to†for what we know about optimizing brain development. It’s about developing all kinds of skills in a fun caring way with a person who is understanding, supportive and responsive. It is acknowledging that the brain wiring laid down in the early years is the foundation of our adult lives. And it is evidence-based.†said Sue Younger.
The first PlayGym resource is a series of cards with over 640 activities in 3 different levels to stimulate the brain connections and develop children’s body systems. Split into 8 sections the PlayGym Card Resource includes upper body activities to develop handwriting, balancing activities to stimulate concentration and manipulative activities for good hand eye, foot eye coordination. The PlayGym Card
Resource is available from GymSports New Zealand’s national office, PlayGym
GymSport centres across the country and Regional Sports Trusts. GymSports NZ strives to improve the movement capabilities of all New Zealanders through its extensive network of clubs offering movement opportunities in trampolining, aerobics, artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics.
The PlayGym initiative is aimed at growing healthy, active and social adults. Supporting the initiative at the launch was Jude Dobson, producer of the “N0ught to Five†television series and Sue Younger, Chairperson of the Brainwave Trust. 70 people from health, early childhood education and sport attended the launch at the award winning Takapuna Kindergarten. 40 children and the attendees got involved in a PlayGym movement spectacular with Tas Evans, expert PlayGym practitioner.
Funded by SPARC (Sport and Recreation New Zealand), GymSports NZ has developed the first in a number of resources for early childhood educators, new entrant teachers and sports with programmes for young children.
“Play Gym is a marvelous “how to†for what we know about optimizing brain development. It’s about developing all kinds of skills in a fun caring way with a person who is understanding, supportive and responsive. It is acknowledging that the brain wiring laid down in the early years is the foundation of our adult lives. And it is evidence-based.†said Sue Younger.
The first PlayGym resource is a series of cards with over 640 activities in 3 different levels to stimulate the brain connections and develop children’s body systems. Split into 8 sections the PlayGym Card Resource includes upper body activities to develop handwriting, balancing activities to stimulate concentration and manipulative activities for good hand eye, foot eye coordination. The PlayGym Card
Resource is available from GymSports New Zealand’s national office, PlayGym
GymSport centres across the country and Regional Sports Trusts. GymSports NZ strives to improve the movement capabilities of all New Zealanders through its extensive network of clubs offering movement opportunities in trampolining, aerobics, artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics.