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Young children's outdoor play serves important and diverse purposes, including physical exercise and opportunities for growth in all developmental areas. Unfortunately, the amount of time that children spend engaged in unstructured, child-directed outdoor play has diminished significantly in the past generation. In this article, the authors describe some of the reasons for this decline and outline the research-supported benefits of outdoor play in general, as well as benefits of play in natural outdoor environments in particular. Suggestions for making the most of outdoor play will benefit children around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Children's participation in yoga activities is receiving increasingly widespread attention as an exercise system that promotes not only physical health benefits but also psychological well-being. The authors of this article introduce how yoga practices can be implemented in an early childhood classroom to enhance children's mind and body harmony, develop their kinesthetic awareness, and provide opportunities for regular exercise. A school-based yoga project such as the one described here can increase children's knowledge of health, while helping them develop skills of balance and control and promoting imagination and collaboration between peers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Children naturally engage in physical play. They learn by exploring their body—its movements and capabilities—and its relationship to others and to the outside world. Incorporating movement and physical activity into formal education settings has been shown to reduce student stress and improve health and academic outcomes. Physical activity in designated periods throughout the day can help children expend energy and thereby improve classroom behavior. In some nations, team sports are employed to build community and responsibility. In other countries, individual activities with a community component, like yoga and tai chi, are popular with practitioners of all ages. Yoga, with its emphasis on intention, is especially beneficial for children. The lessons of focus, perseverance, and harmony that are taught in yoga are vitally important in a school setting, where children often spend long hours at their desks, asked to focus on challenging tasks and undergo rigorous assessments. A shared yoga practice can build community within a classroom and encourage children to engage peacefully with others. In this article, the author explores what and how children learn through yoga practice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) scholars and health professionals worldwide share a common concern about the decline in children's physical development and activity due to lack of access to good quality outdoor environments. Early childhood education and care facilities across the world have been affected by trends that are limiting outdoor play, including large-scale migration of rural populations to industrial urban areas where access to the outdoors is limited. In China, this migration and other factors have resulted in dramatic changes to the nation's sociocultural fabric. The authors discuss policies and practices regarding outdoor play designed for millennial preschoolers in China. It presents a Chinese perspective on preschoolers' (3- to 6-year-olds) outdoor play and physical activity and provides recommendations to enhance a worldwide view of child development in the new millennium. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An introduction to articles discussed within the issue is presented, including one on the influence of various media and "screen technologies" on young children, one on physical wellness and outdoor play activities for young children, and another one on the role of the government in encouraging parent involvement in Gambia.

The article provides information on the Fitness Fun Toolbox program to increase physical activity among students in the U.S., wherein the toolboxes are kept by the students under their desks or in their individual cubby holes in school. Items included in the toolbox are listed, such as jump rope, beanbags, and juggling scarves. Strength-building exercises using the items include arm curls, arm press, and dips. The toolboxes can also be decorated by the students, serving as their art projects.

The author discusses promoting physical activity and play for children in school. The author feels that school is the best place for children to socialize and interact with others their own age. Many communities have eliminated recess due to the demands of high-stakes testing. Suggestions are given for helping to foster active life in the community, such as playgrounds, streets, walking and biking paths which can be accessible to children.

A simple, yet effective way to satisfy children's need for activity is to involve them in marching activities. Such activities can be implemented very easily without any need for specialized [...]

A review of the article "Growing Up Fit: Preschool Fitness Activities," which appeared on the online publication of the Iowa State University Extension is presented.

A review of the article "Interlimb Coordination: An Important Facet of Gross-Motor Skill Ability," by Tatiana Bobbio, Carl Gabbard and Priscila Caçola, which appeared in the periodical "Early Childhood Research & Practice," is presented.

A review of the article "Adapting Physical Activities to Promote Overall Health and Development: Suggestions for Interventionists and Families," by Kristi Sayers Menear and Laura Davis, which appeared in the periodical "Young Exceptional Children," is presented.

A review of the article "The World of A Young Child," by Donna Shilts, which appeared in the periodical "Our Children" is presented.

A review of the article "A Field-Based Testing Protocol for Assessing Gross Motor Skills in Preschool Children: The Children's Activity and Movement in Preschool Study Motor Skills Protocol," by Harriet G. Williams, Karin A. Pfeiffer, Marsha Dowda et al, which appeared in the periodical "Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science," is presented.

An abstract of the article "Active Start: A Statement of Physical Activity Guidelines for Children Birth to Five Years," by Jane E. Clark, Rhonda L. Clements, Rae Pica et al, is presented.