12 Introduction DOUBLE TAB TO ZOOM ON PHONE OR TABLET Meeting Standards In today’s educational climate, meeting standards is a consideration for all education professionals, including those in early childhood. Movement expe- riences in general, and those in Early Elementary Children Moving & Learning specifically, can address multiple standards outlined by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). For example, the position of AAHPERD in Physical Activity for Children: A Statement of Guidelines for Children Ages 5–12 is the following: 1. Children should accumulate at least 60 minutes, and up to several hours, of age-appropriate physical activity on all, or most days of the week. This daily accumulation should include moderate and vigorous physical activity with the majority of the time being spent in activity that is intermittent in nature. 2. Children should participate in several bouts of physical activity last- ing 15 minutes or more each day. 3. Children should participate each day in a variety of age-appropriate physical activities designed to achieve optimal health, wellness, fit- ness, and performance benefits. 4. Extended periods (periods of two hours or more) of inactivity are discouraged for children, especially during the daytime hours. (2004, 3–4) NAEYC offers Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation Programs. Among those standards met by Early Elementary Children are the following: • Standard 1a: Knowing and understanding young children’s charac- teristics and needs. • Standard 1b: Knowing and understanding the multiple influences on development and learning. • Standard 1c: Using developmental knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments. COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL