Movement is a key factor in young children's development and it can affect how they learn and how they feel. Do you work with young children who have difficulties in this area? Movement and Learning in the Early Years shows you how to observe a child as they move to allow for early identification of any problem and then tells you how to help. Dyspraxia (DCD) is on the increase in young children and less confident and easy movement can play a part in other specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, attention deficit disorder (ADD) and with hyperactivity (ADHD). Included is advice on: observing, analysing and assessing movement development; building confidence; helping with handwriting; supporting mathematical development; Why not ask the child to pop bubble paper as one way of promoting finger awareness? Carefully taught activities can be easy to plan and fun to carry out and there are lots of suggested activities set out in the book. Early years practitioners in nurseries, schools, playgroups and EYDCPs will find this book clear and useful; it also offers advice to parents.
Christine Macintyre was formerly Senior Lecturer at Edinburgh University and is now a freelance consultant. Kim McVitty is a nursery school teacher.