Books and Other Documents

Blue the Caring Cub and COVID-19 - a practical, educational, and active way to talk to children about the Coronavirus pandemic and how to stay healthy during it. 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Emotions with Blue and Friends - an easy way to talk to children about their emotions and friendships while getting active.

 

 

 

 

 

Let's Move with Blue and Friends - an easy to read childrens book about getting active, eating healthy, and friendship in the Be Active Kids neighborhood.  [Click here for the video recording]

 

 

 

 

Zoo Active - Join Blue and his friends as they visit the NC Zoo to learn about the animals there and how to stay active.  

 

 

 

 

 

   

A Trip to the Farm with Blue and Friends - an easy to read childrens book about visiting a farm, the animals, getting active and eating healthy.  [Click here for the video recording]

 

 

 

A Trip to the Farm: What Grow Here - an easy to read childrens book about visiting a farm, the food that grows there, getting active and eating healthy.  [Click here for the video recording]

 

 

 

 

Outdoor Play Every Day - an easy to read childrens book about children's free play outside and how important it is for our health and wellbeing.  [Click here for the video recording]

 

 

 

 

A Place for Play - A link to the companion book to Where Do the Children Play? by Elizabeth Goodenough.

Active Play Books - A link to fun physical activities for young children by Dr. Diane Craft

Active Start for Healthy Kids - A link to the resource by Steven Virgilio, available at amazon.com.

Active Start: Physical Activity Guidelines for Children Birth to Five Years (NASPE) - A link to a one page summary created by NCAEYC in Beyond the Journal-Young Children on the Web (May 2006).

Activities for Gross Motor Skills Development - A link to the resource by Jodene Smith, available at amazon.com.

Appropriate Practices in Movement Programs for Children Ages 3-5 - A link to a A Position Statement from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (3rd Edition)

Children's Literature about Health, Nutrition, and Safety - Permission to reprint and post provided by the National Association for the Education of Young Children

Children Moving - A link to the resource by George Graham, Melissa Parker & Shirley Holt/Hale, available at amazon.com.

Dance, Turn, Hop, Learn! - A link to the resource by Connie Bergstein Dow, available at amazon.com.

Developmental Physical Education for All Children - A link to the resource by David Gallahue & Frances Donnelly, available at amazon.com.

Designing Preschool Movement Programs - A link to the resource by Stephen Sanders, available at amazon.com.

Fact Sheet on Children's Health and Nature - The National Environmental Education Foundation

Fact Sheets of Health and Wellness - The National Environmental Education Foundation

Fact Sheet on Outdoor Play - NC Cooperative Extension Office

Jump, Wiggle, Twirl & Giggle! - A link to the resource by Roberta Altman, available at amazon.com.

Kids Dig Dirt - A collection of facts, guidelines and forward-thinking language that museums can draw from while developing their own outdoor spaces.

Kids on the Move: Creative Movement for Children of All Ages - A link to the resource by Kassandra Schmutz Boyd, Jennifer Schmutz Law & Melanie Schmutz Chalk, available at amazon.com.

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder - A link to the resource by Richard Louv, available at amazon.com. 

Learning Through Movement: Children's Literature - A link to the resource by Teacher Created Resources, available at amazon.com.

Moving and Learning across the Curriculum - A link to the resource by Rae Pica, available at amazon.com.

Movement Stories for Young Children: Ages 3-6 - A link to the resource by Helen Landalf, Pamela Gerke, Mark Rimland & Irene Kelly, available at amazon.com.

Moving with a Purpose: Developing Programs for Preschoolers of All Abilities -A link to the resource by Renne McCall & Diane Craft, available at amazon.com. 

Natural Learning: The Life History of an Environmental Schoolyard -  A link to the resource by Robin Moore & Herbert Wong, available at amazon.com.

Nature Play & Learning Places - New guidelines to bring nature play and learning to every community.  Developed by the Natural Learning Initiative, National Wildlife Federation, and US Forest Service.

Nature Play at Home - A guide to boosting children's healthy development and creativity. Developed by the Natural Learning Initiative and the National Wildlife Federation.

Natural Wonders, A Guide to Early Childhood for Environmental Educators -  A resource for teacher created by Minnesota Early Childhood Environmental Education Consortium.

PE Central Books - Provides a link to books appropriate for those teaching youngsters of the preschool age at pecentral.com.

Physical Activities for Improving Children's Learning and Behavior - A link to the resource by Billye Ann Cheatum & Allison Hammond, available at amazon.com.

Physical Education for Young Children: Movement ABCs for the Little Ones - A link to the resource by Rae Pica, available at amazon.com.

Plants for Play:  A Plant Selection Guide for Children's Outdoor Environments -   A link to the resource by Robin Moore, available at amazon.com.

Play for All Guidelines: Planning, Designing and Management of Outdoor Play Settings for All Children - A link to the resource by Robin Moore, Susan Goltsman & Daniel Lacofano, available at amazon.com.

Purposeful Play: Early Childhood Movement Activities on a Budget - A link to the resource by Renne McCall & Diane Craft, available at amazon.com. 

Ready to Use Motor Skills & Movement Station Lesson Plans for Young Children - A link to the resource by Joanne Landy & Keith Burridge, available at amazon.com. 

Ready to Use Motor Skills & Movement Activities for You Children - A link to the resource by Joanne Landy & Keith Burridge, available at amazon.com. 

Secret Spaces of Childhood - a link to the resource by Elizabeth Goodenough, available at amazon.com.

Stories on the Move - A link to the resource by Arelene Cohen, available at amazon.com.

The Book of Movement Exploration: Can You Move Like This? - A link to the resource by John Feierabend & Jane Kahan, available at amazon.com.

We Have the Moves - A physical activity related sources from Sesame Street.

Where Do the Children Play? - A link to a documentary film by Michigan Television, available at amizon.com or at http://www.wfum.org/childrenplay/index.html.

Wiggle, Giggle & Shake: Over 200 Ways to Move and Learn - A link to a resource by Rae Pica, available at amazon.com.

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