Active Designs for Movement in Early Childhood Environments

One of the preeminent aspects of the early years is movement. Young children use movement to explore their environment, practice physical skills, and interact with people and objects around them. Through movement, children also develop active and healthy bodies, which may significantly affect their quality of life in later years. The indoor and outdoor environments in early childhood settings facilitate opportunities to move and play. It is therefore essential to design appropriate environments that would accommodate children’s movement needs. This chapter will focus on the importance of appropriately designed and well-managed indoor and outdoor spaces for promoting movement in the early years. The chapter will also provide some prominent characteristics of designed spaces and identify the physical and spatial implications for movement. Lastly, there will be a discussion about how movement may be integrated into children’s daily routines, vis-a-vis early childhood education, in a manner that is substantially appealing for teachers.