Professional Development List

Active Play! Including Toddlers and Preschoolers with Disabilities in Physical Activities with Their Typical Peers

Learn to lead physical activities that help young children with disabilities develop their movement skills while playing with typical peers. These inclusive developmentally appropriate and FUN activities require only inexpensive equipment and small spaces. General teaching strategies are shared for leading these physical activities in living rooms, backyards, and preschool classrooms. Ideas for modifying these activities to include children of varying ages and abilities are also presented.

Host: Be Active Kids

Instructors:  Dr. Diane Craft

Course Topics: (2) Children Physical & Intellectual Development, (8) Child Growth and Development, (9) Inclusion of Children with Special Needs

Course Format: 1 hour recorded presentation, online assessments, and assignment

Credit: 1 contact hour (CHC) from DCDEE

Directions: Complete a pre-survey, complete the online webinar, follow-up with the post survey.  All work must be completed within 2 weeks of the registration date.

 

Born to Move: Introduction to Physical Literacy

Join Be Active Kids as we partner with Active For Life to help your learn more about Physical Literacy in a two part webinar series.   Physical literacy describes individuals who move with competence and confidence in a wide variety of physical activities in multiple environments that benefit the healthy development of the whole person.  Children develop physical literacy by learning a wide variety of fundamental movement skills that allow them to enjoy many different physical activities and sports. Without physical literacy, they are less likely to stay active for life.  Presenters will be Richard Monette, Editor in Chief and Leader of the Active for Life initiative

Host: Be Active Kids

Instructors: Richard Monette

Course Topics: (2) Children Physical & Intellectual Development, (8) Child Growth and Development

Course Format: 1 hour recorded presentation, online assessments, and assignment

Credit: 1 contact hour (CHC) from DCDEE

Directions: Complete a pre-survey, complete the online webinar, follow-up with the post survey.  All work must be completed within 2 weeks of the registration date

 

Born to Move: Engaging Staff and Parents in Physical Literacy (Part 2)

Join Be Active Kids as we partner with Active For Life to help your learn more about Physical Literacy in a two part webinar series.   After providing and introduction to Physical Literacy,  Presenter will be Richard Monette, Editor in Chief and Leader of the Active for Life initiative will provide those who provide the opportunities for children to be physically active the resources to see that kids are active.  Through the webinar, attendees will be given ample tools, knowledge and ideas to keep kids moving and learning.

Host: Be Active Kids

Instructors: Richard Monette

Course Topics: (2) Children Physical & Intellectual Development, (8) Child Growth and Development

Course Format: 1 hour recorded presentation, online assessments, and assignment

Credit: 1 contact hour (CHC) from DCDEE

Directions: Complete a pre-survey, complete the online webinar, follow-up with the post survey.  All work must be completed within 2 weeks of the registration date.

 

Movement for Toddlers: Support Toddlers as They Develop Higher Level Motor Skills

Be Active Kids and The Inspired Treehouse bring you information toddler play and development. Toddlers, they’re a little sturdier, a little steadier on their feet, and even more ready to explore the world than they were when they were infants.  Amazing changes happen during these first years of childhood as babies become toddlers.  They meet all kinds of developmental milestones as they gain balance, confidence, and independence.  And as their brains develop, so does their coordination and motor control, allowing them to begin to achieve higher level motor skills like jumping, skipping, and even pedaling a bike!  There are tons of fun activities and ideas we can use to support toddlers as they develop these higher level motor skills.  Just as play was a powerful tool to use with infants as they developed foundation skills like rolling and crawling, playful activities can also be used in our work with toddlers!

Host: Be Active Kids

Instructors: Claire Heffron and Lauren Drobnjak

Course Topics: (2) Children Physical & Intellectual Development, (8) Child Growth and Development

Course Format: 1 hour recorded presentation, online assessments, and assignment

Credit: 1 contact hour (CHC) from DCDEE

Directions: Complete a pre-survey, complete the online webinar, follow-up with the post survey.  All work must be completed within 2 weeks of the registration date.

 

Play is Powerful: Ways to Stimulate Infant Development

Be Active Kids and The Inspired Treehouse bring you information infant play and development. Babies are irresistibly cute and cuddly and they progress through child development milestones at an earth shattering pace. One day they are completely helpless and the next, they are trying to sit up on their own. You may think that this developmental progression just happens naturally and that there is very little you can do to stimulate your baby’s skills, but that is just not the case. Babies need gross motor, fine motor and sensory motor stimulation just like an older child. They need time on their tummy, time out of their “containers” (baby seats, strollers, carriers) to sprawl out and explore the floor, and they need your touch and your voice. Play is powerful, even in infancy, and we are going to show you ways to stimulate all aspects of your baby’s development

Host: Be Active Kids

Instructors: Claire Heffron and Lauren Drobnjak

Course Topics: (2) Children Physical & Intellectual Development, (8) Child Growth and Development

Course Format: 1 hour recorded presentation, online assessments, and assignment

Credit: 1 contact hour (CHC) from DCDEE

Directions: Complete a pre-survey, complete the online webinar, follow-up with the post survey.  All work must be completed within 2 weeks of the registration date.

 

Play Basics

Play Basics will help you to better understand what play is and it’s many benefits to children. During this presentation NC Zoo's Linda Kinney will also touch on playwork principals, risk in play, and the role of a facilitator in play.

Host: Be Active Kids

Instructors: Linda Kinney

Course Topics: (1) Planning a safe, healthy learning environment, (2) Children Physical & Intellectual Development, (8) Child Growth and Development

Course Format: 1 hour recorded presentation, online assessments, and assignment

Credit: 1 contact hour (CHC) from DCDEE

Directions: Complete a pre-survey, complete the online webinar, follow-up with the post survey.  All work must be completed within 2 weeks of the registration date.

 

Risky Play:  The Importance of Risky Play for Young Children

Join Be Active Kids as we partner with Pop-Up Adventure Play’s to learn more about Risky Play.   Risky play is freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated.  This type of play provides children with an exhilarating positive emotion and expose the child to the stimuli they previously have feared.  IT is thrilling, exciting, uncertain, and unpredictable.   Join us to learn why risky play is important, what it is, and how to incorporate risky play into a child’s life.

Host: Be Active Kids

Instructors: Morgan Saxby-Liechter

Course Topics: (1) Planning a safe, healthy learning environment, (2) Children Physical & Intellectual Development, (8) Child Growth and Development

Course Format: 1 hour recorded presentation, online assessments, and assignment

Credit: 1 contact hour (CHC) from DCDEE

Directions: Complete a pre-survey, complete the online webinar, follow-up with the post survey.  All work must be completed within 2 weeks of the registration date.

 

Sensory Environments for Infants and Toddlers - Growing the Mind through Movement

How does your infant and toddler classroom impact brain development and affect the rest of a child's life? The brain is the only organ that changes its structure and function due to the environment and it doubles in size in the first year alone. So what does that mean for our infant and toddler rooms and how we arrange them to support healthy brain development? With 80% of the brain dedicated to sensory motor processing it’s imperative that we create classrooms that develop healthy sensory motor systems. With one in six children (Miller) impacted by sensory processing disorder, the first two years are the most important years for laying a foundation for lifelong learning. Discover what you can do to create classrooms for healthy happy babies and toddlers​ that will promote healthy physical development. Learn movement activities for those environments that are developmentally appropriate for infants and toddlers. Creating the environment and filling it with intentional movement experiences brings the best together for school readiness.

Host: Be Active Kids

Instructors:  Christine Roberts

Course Topics: (2) Children Physical & Intellectual Development, (8) Child Growth and Development

Course Format: 1 hour recorded presentation, online assessments, and assignment

Credit: 1 contact hour (CHC) from DCDEE

Directions: Complete a pre-survey, complete the online webinar, follow-up with the post survey.  All work must be completed within 2 weeks of the registration date.

 

What in the World is a PlayDaze?  How to Hold your Own Day of Play

Join Be Active Kids and Friends as we learn what in the world a PlayDaze is and how you too can hold your own day of Play!  This webinar will give you the ideas and connections you will need to be successful in your own event!

Host: Be Active Kids

Instructors: Ronda Hawkins, Patty Sullivan, and Judy Thomas

Course Topics: (1) Planning a safe, healthy learning environemnt, (2) Children Physical & Intellectual Development, (8) Child Growth and Development

Course Format: 1 hour recorded presentation, online assessments, and assignment

Credit: 1 contact hour (CHC) from DCDEE

Directions: Complete a pre-survey, complete the online webinar, follow-up with the post survey.  All work must be completed within 2 weeks of the registration date.

Testimonials

  • Preservice Teachers Learn to Use Be Active Kids in Limited Spaces

    I really enjoyed our class meeting. It was interesting to discover that you can do just about anything with children in the classroom where there may not be much space to encourage them to be active.  A change that I will make in my own life is to be more active, as well as my daughter. I will share this information with my friends that have children such as yoga animals, or Simon Says.

    Cathy Sesta, Parent & Child Care Provider
  • Early Childhood Physical Activity Institute

    Thank you for inviting me to be part of this year’s Institute. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the experience. You’re doing amazing work and I hope I’ll be able to continue contributing to it a bunch in the future.

    Rae Pica, www.movingandlearning.com
  • Plenty of Resources That I Can Use and Share

    This class was informative, and I look forward to being physically active with young children. On Friday, I volunteered at a Parents Night Out through my daughter's school. When I got there the kids were watching a movie. I got them up to play Simon Says and Red Light Green Light, however, after that I was stuck on what to do. I wish I had the knowledge I gained from this class, to have made it more exciting.

    I enjoyed your Land and Lake Activity.

    Venessa Wright, Parent & Child Care Provider
  • Be Active Kids Trainers Rock!

    I loved the training.  I would have loved it more if I had the other teachers from my center there also.  I am really looking forward to taking my kit to work and sharing it with my staff.  I liked Brittney, she reminded me of myself as far as being very active and motivated.  When I am at work with my little ones we stay busy all day.  I feel like singing my instructions and dancing my actions helps them to focus better on what I need for them to do.  Britney was great and I learned a lot from her. I am always trying to find new little ways to get the kids moving.

    Tiffany Daniel, Sandhill Community College
  • ECPAI

    The Early Childhood Physical Activity Institute was just wonderful!  Thank you again for including me in such an important effort to create and sustain leaders in EC physical activity. I would love to return to NC anytime that you think I can help. I enjoyed meeting the folks who work with you and hearing about all of the great things that are planned. 

    Linda Carson, Choosy Kids
  • Be Active Kids has Much to Offer

    Congratulations to you and everyone who has been promoting PA for young
    children in NC. You have much to be proud of here. Be Active Kids is an excellent source of ideas for promoting active play in unstructured settings. The Be Active Kids website also has resources on promoting unstructured active play. I encourage folks to review these resources. 

    Diane Craft, SUNY Cortland & Active Play Books