Active Movement Advisor

Our Active Movement Advisor is Amanda Taylor.  You can contact her on 03 474 6411 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Active Movement Resources

To find out more about Active Movement you can visit the SPARC website here.  You can download the 'Introduction To Active Movement' and the 14 'Active Movement Activity Guides' from their website.  If you would like copies of these Active Movement booklets either visit Sport Otago or your local regional office, or if you live outside an urban area contact Amanda This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and she can make arrangements to get a set to you.

Active Movement On DVD

The 'Active Movement For Under Fives' DVD's consist of segments from the 'Nought To Five' TV series.  To get your free copy you can either visit Sport Otago at 184 High Street in Dunedin or your local regional office, or you can contact Amanda This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  You can view Active Movement segments on the SPARC website here.

Active Movement Workshops

We regularly hold workshops on how to implement the Active Movement programme.  These are held right across Otago throughout the year.  For information on upcoming Active Movement workshops contact our coordinator here.

Wriggle And Rhyme

Wriggle and Rhyme is an Active Movement programme run in association with Dunedin City Libraries to give parents of 0 - 1 year olds an opportunity to learn stimulating new ways to help their children develop.  For full details of Wriggle and Rhyme click here.

Active Movement Articles From ACTiVATE Magazine

For more information about Active Movement in your community and ideas for games and activities check out the articles in our ACTiVATE magazine. (Note, these files are about 2-3mb and may take a couple of minutes to load on a dial-up connection.)

Winter 2010

Autumn 2010

Summer 2010

Spring 2009

Winter 2009

Autumn 2009

Summer 2009

Spring 2008

Active Movement Resources

There are plenty of ways to keep Active Movement interesting for both you and your children.  Click on the links below to check out some new ideas.

Bath Time Ideas

Bean Bag Activities

Ideas For Mat Time

Swiss Ball Activities

Useful Websites

Dunedin Under 5's Movement Directory

Recommendations For Parents

Parents and caregivers can ensure the growing child has the best possible start to life by making a knowledgeable and loving commitment to active lifestyles for their children and themselves. The following suggestions can assist the parent to be actively involved and to make this commitment to children for daily active movement participation.

1. Possess the Active Child Image.  From birth, babies are constantly learning to move and learning through their movement. Children will learn and grow as nature intended with parents holding a positive image of the moving and learning growing child.

2. Provide Daily Opportunities. Daily active movement experiences dispersed throughout the child's day will provide optimum growing and learning development. Time is necessary to learn Active Movement skills.

3. Create Playfulness. Take time to play and enjoy your child developing in Active Movement.

4. Create Active Movement Traditions. Make Active Movement a tradition. Commit to and enjoy Active Movement as a family at least once per week, such as involved in kappa haka, taking a walk: in the bush, along the beach, around the lake, at the river. Enjoy what Mother Earth has provided.

5. Use Aids Appropriately. Limit the use of equipment that restricts a child' natural ability to move and develop, for example, car seats are intended for the car and inappropriate use can limit a child's opportunities for activities. Some aids may inhibit correct development of hips and legs, limit body rotation and have high accident rates.

6. Avoid Inactivity.  We know that many hours of TV/video watching, playing on computers and game consoles, limits the development of the brain/body system as well as providing opportunities for extra food snacking. Set time limits and be selective.

Recommendations For Early Childhood Centres

How To Incorporate Active Movement

In the early childhood educational setting the parental suggestions influence your involvement and practive with the child.  Strengthening positive concepts of Active Movement through knowledgeable interactions and providing contextual envrionments where children can move and learn is essential.  This will empower children with confidence and competence in themselves and their bodies ability to move and learn.

1. Possess the Active Movement image.  Seeing the child as a unique, confident and competent active mover will ensure the setting and experiences that are co-created reflect this.

2. Provide the Active Movement context.  Positive experiences that underpin the social and cultural influences of children, family and whanau, and community will be more relevant, empowering, inclusive and meaningful.

3. Value and plan for Active Movement.  Having Active Movement domain knowledge and being committed to implementing Active Movement will ensure the setting is one where children are encouraged to value, care for and respect themselves and each other, are affirmed individuals and have the opportunities to contribute. When staff are in tune with where children are at, the teachable moments will be captured.

4. Playful and Active Role Models.  Successful acquisition of fundamental Active Movement skills is dependent upon the involvement of the positive and knowledgeable active educator.  Learning is fostered through responsive and reciprocal relationships between teacher and child.

5. Recognise the Holistic Learning In Active Movement.  What outwardly appears to be physical experience for children is actually interwoven with the cognitive, social, cultural, emotional and spiritual dimensions of learning and growing.

6. Promote the Use of Te Reo and Tikanga.  Encourage the use of Te Reo Maori in Active Movement experiences. For example, translate familiar words, instruction and directions. Explore and experience the arts associated equipment. For example: poi, rakau, waiata and haka movements and understand the sacredness of these.

7. Involve the Family and Community In Active Movement. Cultivate the sense of unity and identity between family and whanau through moving and learning together. Share knowledge of the games and activities of the diverse cultures in the centre.