Targeting children birth through five, the Early Childhood Sector has the opportunity to intervene during a critical window of child development.
Most young children spend time in care outside of their homes, making the early care and education (ECE) setting an important focus for physical activity promotion, policy and environmental change.
The Early Childhood Sector Work Group is led by early childhood consultant Rhonda Erpelding, with assistance from Lori Lanter, from Child Care Licensing at the Unified Government Public Health Department.
Miro Board
Miro is an interactive visual collaboration software that mimics the process of using sticky notes in a virtual setting.
Click below to see the feedback from the Early Childhood Sector meetings.
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KCPA Plan Strategies and Tactics for Early Childhood
Early childhood providers play a critical role in creating policies and enacting best practices for physical activity in young children, as well as engaging families in physical activity opportunities.
Strategies and Tactics for the Early Childhood Sector Work Group mirror the National Physical Activity Plan, with an emphasis on opportunities that align with state and regional quality improvement and training efforts.
Strategy 4
State and regional partners should adopt standards for early childhood education (ECE) settings to ensure that children are appropriately physically active.
Tactics
Partner with ECE providers to identify high-priority model physical activity licensing standards.
Create evidence-based documents for professional and public use in advocating for childcare licensing regulations and early learning standards to include model physical activity standards.
Advocate for childcare licensing regulations to include model physical activity standards.
Strategy 5
State and regional partners should provide professional development to ensure effective implementation of physical activity standards and best practices.
Tactics
Collaborate with regional partners to provide ongoing professional development about physical activity in ECE settings that aligns with best practices and standards.
Advocate to include professional development on physical activity in state licensing regulations, and work with state partners to ensure accessible and appropriate training exists in the region.
Advocate for regional and state trainings to include technical assistance/coaching, curriculum and ongoing supports for ECE settings to implement best practices and standards.
Strategy 6
State and regional partners should share and promote high priority best practices for physical activity in ECE settings.
Tactics
Compile and disseminate documents that present examples of regional priority best practices, including rationale and implementation recommendations by age group.
Collaborate with state and regional partners to promote and expand ECE program participation in quality initiatives that support physical activity best practices. (such as Missouri Move Smart, Kansas Childcare Quality Improvement Support Services, and Missouri and Kansas Go NAP-SACC initiatives).
Incorporate physical activity best practices within regional and state quality initiatives (such as Mid-America Regional Council’s (MARC) Early Learning Profile Program, state quality rating systems, and state early learning standards.)
Strategy 7
Early childhood providers should include physical activity resources and opportunities within family engagement efforts at the regional or program levels.
Tactics
Discuss physical activity with families as part of existing family health assessments or goal setting in settings such as Head Start, home visiting, WIC, or healthcare visits.
Collaborate across sectors to ensure families have connections to resources and strategies for physical activity.
Include physical activity within existing family engagement efforts in ECE settings (i.e., parent cafes, family events, family education, parent councils, etc.).