The Healthy and Active Child

Overview

The unit develops knowledge and understanding of a range of health related areas that impact on the lives of children and their families. Pre-service teachers will learn about specific childhood illnesses and conditions, the importance of overall health and nutrition and how to offer a variety of opportunities for young children to engage in a range of physically active play opportunities and learning experiences that foster health and wellbeing.

Learning outcomes

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Assessment

Content

• Common childhood illnesses – symptoms and treatment
• Children’s growth
• Stress and the impacts of cortisol on children’s growth and development
• Brain development and the neurosciences
• Childhood nutrition, first aid, hygiene, safety
• Health related policies, procedures and legal requirements
• The role of physically active play for health and wellbeing
• Challenging and creative educational environments
• Risk aversion and benefit assessment
• Outside play environments and risk
• Physical education and teaching children about health, safety and nutrition
• Contemporary health issues
• Natural play spaces, connections with nature and links to health
• Sharing information about children's health with children, families and communities
• Mandatory reporting
• Family violence