Erin Byrd

Ready to kick off the ‘Dive into Developmental Science’ event at the Ulster Museum today! Can’t wait to see what fun and wacky games the children can create at our physical literacy station! @ulstermuseum.org @ulsteruni.bsky.social

Thanks Sarah! You can download the document at our website www.buildingactiveschools.co.uk

News article about the building active schools in special education guidance document. Title is “New first-of-its-kind guidance to promote whole school approach to physical activity in special education settings”.

Dr Erin Byrd standing in front of a presentation on building active schools in special education

Was great to welcome people from across the education and sport sector to launch this guidance document yesterday! A massive thank you to my co-authors @mariehmurphy.bsky.social @profvicsimms.bsky.social @jjw-research.bsky.social (and those not on Bluesky!) and the wonderful co-dev working group 🤗

Just over 2 weeks to go until we launch the Building Active Schools in Special Education co-developed guidance document! Looking forward to welcoming educators, community members and policymakers to discuss our work on whole school approaches to physical activity, movement and play. Come join us!

🙋‍♀️ oh hi! Would love an add here!

There is definitely a need to rethink how we apply the curriculum because right now we are failing to meet the movement and play needs and rights of children

Physical development Getting moving for at least three hours a day Walking up and down steps (one foot at a time, using the wall for support) Climbing, running, jumping and playing Catching a large ball (most of the time) Doing simple puzzles and craft activities, strengthening their grip with cutting and sticking

There's a 'starting reception' guide being shared atm and I'm struck by the irony of this bit because I don't think the curriculum allows for 3 hours of movement a day, even though the NHS advises it.

NEW #Playgrounds research w. #PaulBrindley
#YueshanMa #RuiWang & #HelenWoolley published in #LandMDPI

Using #opensource data we explore 33,736 #playgrounds in #England

Our study generates a new framework to help reduce #play inequalities nationally

FREE TO ACCESS doi.org/10.3390/land14030477

Love how they will fact check certain posts but not others………👀

More councils should close off streets to encourage outdoor games More councils should periodically close off streets to encourage outdoor games

Of course I agree that more councils should close off streets for play, but children have been actively squeezed out of public space, by councils, govt, media - there needs to be a strong political & cultural pushback to reclaim children’s right to space and to play.
www.thetimes.com/article/b792...

Had SO much fun running a ‘walk and talk’ focus group with kids with additional needs and disabilities from a local school. These photos were taken by them. They took us on a tour of the school campus showing us all the places they love to play and be active. Love my job & all the cool kids I meet!

I’ve been considering organising a big outdoor play day and putting letters through doors to invite kids and grandkids out to play, and parents out to share their favourite street games from their youth with the kids.

That is something really important. I know my kids are the only kids in our cul de sac outside playing when I know there are other kids that live in the street. It’s sad for my kids too as I have such fond memories of getting outside with kids on our street at playing for hours.

So interesting and feeding off what @ianwaites.bsky.social says below, has there been a subconscious shift towards our views of ‘street’ play as being only something that happens in more deprived areas. If so that needs to be addressed alongside play deprivation.

Why kids need to take more risks: science reveals the benefits of wild, free play Studies reveal how risky play can benefit child development. But encouraging it can be a challenge for parents.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Kids painting a tree with mud

Kids picking up sticks in the woods

A kid climbing a tree

Fort building, tree climbing, and mud painting. Fantastic few hours of child led play in the woods today. Such great exploration and activity! Happy, muddy kids having the best time 😁 #littleexplorers #outdoorplay #riskyplay #naturebasedplay

Invest in green space and play space! Encouraging play benefits the planet as well as kids apparently 😆 #playmatters #outdoorplay

Never heard it quite put that way- but love it! My second child definitely launched me from allowing and supporting risky play, to ‘benign neglect’. It’s purely a case of I can’t stop her so I’ll just leave her to it!

Oh the title and cover look equally fabulous!

Oh would love to join the list!

Oh! Would love to be added to this!

Oh! Just found and shared this! Would love to be added!

The Ultimate Guide to Self-Regulation in the Classroom, book by Sue Cowley

I'm doing a free giveaway to celebrate the publication of my latest book! Like and repost to enter (UK only). Winner announced on Sunday. See the link below to find out more about the book. #freebie #giveaway

👀

Children jumping between colourful stepping stones

Children jumping between colourful stepping stones

Children jumping between colourful stepping stones

Fab choice by the 7 year old as a gift from Santa. Beyond physical skills I see the building of many other social and cognitive skills e.g.
problem-solving, concentration,
communication, resilience, confidence, mastery, imagination, planning, inhibitory control and so much more! #play #playmatters

#physicalactivity

New year, new opportunity!

Come join us to explore whole school approaches to physical activity in special education schools

Send me a message or email to find out more information about the research programme or applying!

#PhD #PhDlife #AcademicChatter

www.ulster.ac.uk/doctoralcoll...

Child jumping into giant box

iPad: 0, giant Amazon box: 1

Is there a function in Amazon where we can order a super small item but ask for it to come in a giant box? 🤔

Great to see all the imaginative things she can come up with!

#play #activeplay

What better day than #InternationalDayofPersonswithDisabilities to tell you about a FUNDED PhD opportunity @ Ulster Uni!

🔍Come explore whole school approaches to physical activity in special education settings with us!🏃‍♀️

🎓Fully funded PhD!
👏 Great team
🏫 Times HE Uni of the Year!

t.co/jBfSRsY0r9

Enjoyed welcoming special education community members to Ulster Uni today to discuss how we can adapt and implement whole school approaches to #physicalactivity in #SEN settings in NI. Fantastic discussions and collaboration, and always inspiring to feel the passion this community has!