Gill Connell

Gill Connell has been involved in education in New Zealand for almost 30 years. She is a primary trained teacher (TTC. ATCL) and very experienced in early childhood.

She is presently working as a consultant in her own educational business where she regularly runs professional development courses and in-service workshops for early childhood and primary teachers, parents and caregivers talking about the importance of movement and learning. She is the NZ teacher trainer for Perceptual Motor Programming – a movement program many schools in New Zealand are implementing. She is also invited to speak on a regular basis at Colleges of Educations, Kindergarten Associations, SPELD, Parent Centres and many other organizations, throughout New Zealand, in the Pacific Islands and recently in Europe.

Gill was a member of the Active Movement Reference committee and co wrote the Active Movement brochures – a resource designed to create an awareness of the importance of movement in early childhood published by SPARC (Sport and Recreation NZ).

She is also the co author of the popular book "Moving To Learn" which is a practical manual for parents, teachers and caregivers giving reasons why and how to promote movement in children from 0-3. It contains a CD of original action based music. She is currently writing her next book due for publication shortly.

Gill also appears on the popular parenting TV series "Naught to Five" recently screened on TV 2. She works with Sujit Kumar – the Fijian Chicken man and appeared on a documentary that screened earlier last year about his therapy and new life in Suva. She also writes on occasions for Little Treasure and Littlies magazines.

In recent months she has consulted for NZ Swimming helping them develop their infant program and consults with designers for a major toy company in the USA.

Written by Gill Connell – child development consultant, teacher and co-author of Moving to Learn – Crowe/Connell. www.movingtolearn.com.