ACTIVE START #
Boys 0-6 // Girls 0-6
OBJECTIVES:
Learn fundamental movements and link them together in play.
ACTIVE START CHECKLIST:
✔ Provide organized physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day for toddlers and at least
60 minutes a day for preschoolers.
✔ Provide unstructured physical activity — active play — for at least 60 minutes a day, and up to several hours per day for toddlers and preschoolers. Toddlers and preschoolers should not be sedentary for more than 60 minutes at a time, except while sleeping.
✔ Provide infants, toddlers and preschoolers with opportunities to participate in daily physical activity that promotes fitness and movement skills.
✔ Provide parents with age-appropriate information related to golf.
✔ Introduce healthy nutrition habits (food should not be used as a reward)
✔ Ensure that children acquire movement skills that build towards more complex movements. These skills help lay the foundation for lifelong physical activity.
✔ Encourage basic movement skills — they do not just happen as a child grows older, but develop depending on each child’s heredity, activity experiences and environment. For children with a disability, access to age and disability-appropriate adapted equipment is an important contributor to success.
✔ Focus on improving basic movement skills such as running, jumping, twisting, kicking, throwing and catching. These basic human movements are the building blocks for more complex activities.
✔ Design activities that help children feel competent, successful and comfortable participating in a variety of fun and challenging games and activities.
✔ Ensure that games for young children are non-competitive and focus on participation.
✔ Because girls tend to be less active and more social than boys and children with a disability less active than their peers, ensure that activities are gender-neutral and physically inclusive so that active living is equally valued and promoted for all children.
ACTIVE START GOLFER DEVELOPMENT#
ATHLETIC SKILLS
Running, jumping, hopping, twisting, turning, stopping, starting, static balance, catching a ball with two hands.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Experimentation with body, club and ball. Important to remember that kids don’t learn like adults.
PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
Trying new challenges, effort, following simple instructions.
SOCIAL-BEHAVIORAL DEVELOPMENT
Learning to share; learning to say thank you; like to be with friends; are the center of their worlds; parents are central for praise and approval; need balance and variety of new and familiar activities in short doses.
PRACTICE
No formal guidelines for practice. At this age it’s about positive experiences based on a child’s interest level.
COMPETITION
None. Not applicable or appropriate at this stage.
EQUIPMENT
Age appropriate equipment. Safety is the first and foremost concern at these young ages.
WHERE TO PLAY
Everywhere, commensurate with ability (Golf Course, Park, gymnasium, mini putt, backyard, school playground, living room, etc.)
Information for Parents #
Parents play the MOST important role at this stage by immersing their children in various sports and activities. They must assume this responsibility and pave the path toward lifelong activity. Failure to do so could lead to a sedentary lifestyle for their kids. Nutrition is also important at this stage and parents should start healthy eating habits. Golf is also an excellent opportunity for the family to spend time together and it’s never too early to start.
