Elements and Performance Criteria
- Elements define the essential outcomes.
- Provide physical care
- Promote physical activity
- Consistently implement movement and physical experiences as part of the program for all children
- Participate with children in their physical activity
- Promote physical activity through planned and spontaneous experiences appropriate for each child
- Encourage each child’s level of participation in physical activities according to the child’s abilities and their level of comfort with activities
- Engage children in outdoor play
- Foster children’s participation in physical activities
- Discuss with children how their bodies work and the importance of physical activity to people’s health and wellbeing
- Adapt facilities to ensure access and participation
- Assist in providing challenging elements of outdoor and indoor environments that allow for experiences which scaffold children’s learning and development and offer chances for appropriate risk-taking
- Promote the sun protection of children to meet the recommendations of relevant recognised authorities
- Provide a balance of natural and artificial lighting, good ventilation and fresh air
- Organise indoor and outdoor spaces that ensure children are not always dependent on adults to do things for them and are supported to create their own games and experiences
- Engage with children in constructing their own play settings/environments and create indoor and outdoor environments that stimulate and reflect children’s interests
- Help children with change
- Prepare children for changes in a supportive and timely manner
- Assist in developing meaningful routines, including those to minimise distress at separation of the family and child
- Identify and respond to children’s feelings openly, appropriately and with respect
- Encourage children to communicate, listen and treat others with respect
- Encourage opportunities to express feelings and emotions appropriately
- Settle new arrivals
- Observe families and children for signs of stress/distress on arrival
- Begin interaction with the child while family is still present to minimise abruptness of separation
- Encourage the family to take as much time as needed to have a relaxed, unhurried separation from their child
- Respond to child’s distress at separation from the family in a calm reassuring manner