Jane Kilkenny
By: Jane Kilkenny
Raising happy and healthy kids is the number priority for parents. Movement plays an essential part in childhood development, but not just physical development, it’s also crucial for cognitive, neurological, emotional and social development.
In the early years, the most important aspect of movement is active play, which provides the opportunity to explore the environment, foster imagination and improve and adapt movement skills. The fundamental motor skills children must learn include running, jumping, hopping, skipping, throwing and catching. The FMS (fundamental motor skills) work together to develop physical literacy and body confidence.
Research clearly indicates that children need movement to enhance their cognitive development including brain function, coordination and nerve development. Movement helps build confidence and enhances positive self-esteem. It also helps to build strong bones and muscles and improves flexibility, balance, posture and sleep quality.
Having active adult role models will have a major impact on this phase for kids. They need to have the opportunity to explore a diverse range of environments, play games and have fun. And they need to do all these things together with active adults, so don’t sit on the sidelines, lead by example.
These early years can influence the foundations for lifelong health and as parents, we must give our kids every opportunity to enjoy their best health. The habits developed in childhood in relation to activity and nutrition can impact your child for life, so always ensure that you are providing healthy examples and opportunities for fun activities and healthy nutrition.
Whilst we wait in anticipation for our child to take their first steps, this milestone sets in motion their ability for independence and walking soon leads to running. Kids love to run and we should encourage them to do so at every opportunity, a game of chasey is always fun. Running is also a key factor in promoting skeletal development in kids and also lifts mood, so the benefits are extensive and long-lasting.
Jumping is fun and becomes a key skill for many sports. Safe take-off and landing skills are important and even before children can walk they will often begin bouncing up and down whilst holding on to the hands of adults.
Skipping is another key movement pattern that many children now struggle with. Skipping is a crucial skill for improving the run technique as it is fundamentally a single leg loading pattern. Skipping with a rope is also important for jumping skills and a great fun fitness activity.
Hopscotch is another great game for young kids. Hopping on one leg is important for developing balance skills, and stability in the ankles, knees and hips, and is closely linked to running, skipping and jumping.
Learning to catch and throw a ball can also be started with very young toddlers. The important thing to remember is to use a ball that is age-appropriate, starting with something very soft and quite large. This will ensure that the child is not hurt or frightened by the object even if it does contact them.
Ball skills again provide an opportunity to play, promote skill development and facilitate sports as kids grow and develop.
When children do not have these fundamental motor skills they are often reluctant to play sport. These skills are a very important part of a healthy childhood and often play a significant role in lifelong health. Taking the time to play games and practise motor skills with toddlers is fun, rewarding and a beautiful bonding experience.
Time spent with your child in active play, exploring movements and building body confidence will also facilitate positive self-esteem. Encouraging your child to move more also provides a positive mood boost and is a great way to deal with anxiety. Research supports physical activity for its physical benefits but now also recognises the immense positive benefits for our mental health.
Movement and active play are essential for your child’s development. Time is precious and whilst we all lead busy lives you can never be too busy to maximise your child’s development through activity and play. Enjoy this special time in their lives, it passes way too quickly so make the most of every second.
