Children in Action Motor Program for Preschoolers

Want an innovative way to get young children moving―and support development across multiple domains? Discover CHAMPPS, the fun, effective, and research‐based motor program for inclusive preschool classrooms. Filling the need for a school‐based motor program designed for children with diverse abilities, CHAMPPS uses universal design for learning strategies to increase all children's physical activity while supporting key school readiness skills, including social, language, and pre‐academic skills.

Why CHAMPPS?

• Builds essential motor skills. Through fun motor play activities, CHAMPPS teaches and reinforces key skills that are building blocks for many areas of development.
• Strengthens school readiness. CHAMPPS builds in suggestions for developing school readiness skills across multiple academic and social‐emotional domains.
• Engages every child. CHAMPPS uses UDL strategies to support the participation of all children―including children with disabilities, who often have motor delays.
• Reflects evidence‐based practices. CHAMPPS is rigorously researched and informed by guidelines from NAEYC, DEC, SHAPE America, and other leading organizations.
• Fits into any classroom or program. CHAMPPS is flexible and adaptable, with sample 21‐ and 28‐week schedules that help you adjust lesson frequency and length to suit your needs and the needs of the children in your care.
• Complements other curricula that are widely used in early childhood settings, including AEPS‐3.

PRACTICAL SUPPORTS:

• Charts with ideas for incorporating UDL strategies and school readiness skills
• Activity variations to support inclusion and child engagement
• Home Activities that enable families to do CHAMPPS activities at home
• Walk‐Around Cards that summarize activities for quick reference during lessons
• Visual Support Cards with illustrations that model key movements
• Skill Leveling Guide for determining a child's skill level and modifying instruction
• Wall posters that list the activities and songs in each CHAMPPS unit for easy reference
• Guidelines for choosing books, videos, and classroom materials for motor activities

Dr. Paddy C. Favazza has a background and research focus in the areas of: the social inclusion, attitude development, and social and motor development with particular interest in curriculum development related to inclusion and motor development and, the use of motor skill programs for young children with disabilities as a vehicle for inclusion within the family, school and community in developing nations in a global context. Professor Favazza is a former teacher of young children with disabilities, an advocate for the rights and dignity of all children; committed to ensuring that curriculum and strategies used in early childhood have sound theoretical underpinnings, represent evidenced based practice, engage families and are culturally responsive.

Dr. Michaelene M. Ostrosky is Grayce Wicall Gauthier Professor of Education and Head of the Department of Special Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She has been involved in research and dissemination on the inclusion of children with disabilities, social-emotional competence, and challenging behavior.

Through her work on the national Center on the Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning she was involved in the development of the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Young Children. Professor Ostrosky is a former editor of Young Exceptional Children (YEC) and the co-editor of several YEC monographs. She co-authored the Making Friends book (2016), which supports the acceptance of individuals with disabilities, and The Project Approach for All Learners (2018).

Professor Ostrosky has been recognized for her professional accomplishments with honors such as UIUC University Scholar, Goldstick Family Scholar, College of Education Senior Scholar, and the Division of Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Childrenâ (TM)s Award for Mentoring.