As an early childhood educator, you know how much movement matters for kids. Whether they’re running, hopping, or diving into imaginative play, these activities help them grow stronger, more confident, and socially connected. But as you work to support their development, finding fresh, effective ways to make movement a consistent part of the day can sometimes be challenging.
That’s where Animal Fun comes in. This evidence-based program is designed to support physical literacy in pre-schoolers through fun, animal-inspired activities that build movement skills, boost confidence, and encourage a lifelong love of being active. It’s a simple, effective way to enhance your curriculum while keeping children motivated and excited to move.
In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of physical literacy in early childhood and how Animal Fun can seamlessly integrate into your teaching to support your students’ development and their enthusiasm for physical activity.
What is Physical Literacy and Why Does it Matter?
Movement in early childhood does more than just build physical strength—it plays a vital role in cognitive, social, and emotional development. Physical literacy underpins the essential skills children carry with them throughout life, helping them stay active and confident while supporting their overall well-being. It’s about nurturing the whole child, not just their physical fitness.
The benefits of strong physical literacy are clear:
- Better health and well-being – Physically literate children are more likely to maintain active lifestyles, lowering their risk of obesity and other health issues.
- Boosted cognitive development – Movement enhances brain function, improving concentration, problem-solving, and overall learning capacity.
- Stronger social and emotional growth – Participating in physical activities with peers builds self-esteem, cooperation, and resilience.
But even with these benefits in mind, incorporating physical literacy into daily routines without adding extra stress to your workload can be tricky. That’s where Animal Fun comes in, offering a flexible, enjoyable way to integrate movement without requiring extra time or equipment.
How the Animal Fun Program Supports Your Teaching Practice
Animal Fun is designed specifically with early childhood educators in mind, making it easy to introduce purposeful movement into your daily routine. You’re already committed to creating a dynamic, engaging environment for your group—Animal Fun simply enhances it, adding a layer of semi-structured developmentally appropriate activities that support the learning goals you’re already working toward.
1. Practical, Play-Based Activities
Animal Fun uses animal-inspired movements to engage children in developing balance, coordination, and motor skills—core elements of physical literacy. These activities are intuitive and fun, so children don’t even realize they’re exercising; they’re just playing.
- Easy integration: Embed these activities into transitions between sessions, during mat time, or as short movement breaks. For example, children can hop like kangaroos as they move from one activity to another, or balance like flamingos during morning group time.
- No extra equipment needed: The activities can be done anywhere, making them adaptable to both indoor and outdoor spaces. Whether you’re in a classroom, on the playground, or in a gym, these activities fit seamlessly into your daily routine.
2. Strengthening the Skills You’re Already Developing
You’re already helping children build fine and gross motor skills, as well as their social and emotional abilities. The Animal Fun program complements this by focusing on individual and group-based movements that help children develop:
- Balance and coordination: Through simple, enjoyable movements like crawling like a crocodile or flying like an eagle, children practice these essential skills.
- Teamwork and cooperation: Many activities encourage group participation, such as “Ants Working Hard” where kids imitate animal movements, promoting collaboration and communication.
- Confidence and resilience: As children master new movements in a supportive environment, they develop the confidence to tackle new challenges—an essential part of both physical and emotional growth.
3. Evidence-Based and Easy to Use
The Animal Fun program is grounded in research and developed by experts from Curtin University’s Health Sciences Faculty, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and psychologists. It’s designed to be flexible enough to suit the specific needs of your group and - best of all - it’s incredibly simple to implement.
- Pre-made resources: The program comes with a manual, set of activity cards and program planning guides, so you won’t need to spend hours planning new activities. Everything you need is ready to go, allowing you to focus on engaging with your students.
- Inclusive activities: The program is adaptable for children of all abilities, ensuring that everyone in your group can participate and benefit from the activities.
Bringing Physical Literacy to Life with Animal Fun
Physical literacy is key to a child’s long-term success, and Animal Fun makes it easier for you to offer meaningful, developmentally appropriate movement experiences. Whether you’re looking to enrich your current curriculum or add new energy to your physical literacy activities, Animal Fun provides the tools and structure you need to elevate your program.
One educator shared their experience:
“Our kinder completed the Animal Fun workshop with Sue as part of our SRF. It was an extremely informative and interesting PD. We put the program into place immediately with our 4-year-old families and the children are LOVING it. Thankyou Sue. A real gem of a program!” - Jacquie Chilvers
By making movement fun, accessible, and educational, Animal Fun enhances the incredible work you’re already doing with your students. Ready to bring more purposeful, joyful movement to your classroom? Explore the Animal Fun program here and discover how it can support your students’ physical literacy journey—and your teaching practice.
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