With Book Week done and dusted for another year, this week’s blog is shifting the attention from books and reading to physical literacy. Developing a child’s physical literacy equips them with the Fundamental Movement Skills and knowledge to participate confidently in a wide range of sports.
What are the Fundamental Movement Skills?
The Fundamental Movement Skills are the building blocks of physical development and include basic movements such as running, jumping, throwing, catching, and balancing. Learning these skills during early childhood is crucial as they form the foundation for more complex movements used in sports, physical activities, and everyday tasks.
Why are the Fundamental Movement Skills important?
1. Physical Health: Developing Fundamental Movement Skills improves overall physical health by enhancing strength, coordination, balance, and flexibility. Children who are proficient in these skills are more likely to be physically active, which contributes to a healthy lifestyle.
2. Confidence and Self-Esteem: As children master these skills, they gain confidence in their abilities, which boosts self-esteem. This confidence encourages them to participate in physical activities, sports, and play, leading to a more active and engaged lifestyle.
3. Academic Performance: Research shows that physical activity, particularly activities that develop Fundamental Movement Skills, can positively impact cognitive development and academic performance. Active children tend to have better concentration, memory, and behaviour in the classroom.
4. Social Skills: Engaging in physical activities that involve Fundamental Movement Skills helps children develop social skills such as teamwork, cooperation, and communication. These skills are essential for building positive relationships with peers.
5. Foundation for Lifelong Physical Activity: Proficiency in Fundamental Movement Skills provides the foundation for a wide range of physical activities and sports. Children who develop these skills are more likely to lead active lives as they grow older, reducing the risk of chronic diseases and promoting overall well-being.
Fundamental Movement Skills and the New PDHPE Syllabus
The importance of Fundamental Movement Skills is recognised in the new NSW Personal Development, Health, and Physical Education (PDHPE) syllabus and is the first outcome across all grades from Kindergarten to Year 6. This updated curriculum emphasises the development of Fundamental Movement Skills as a cornerstone of physical education in schools. The syllabus aims to ensure that all children have the opportunity to learn and master these skills, setting them up for a lifetime of physical activity and health.
The new PDHPE syllabus integrates Fundamental Movement Skills into various learning experiences, encouraging children to explore and practise these skills in a variety of contexts. By focusing on Fundamental Movement Skills, the syllabus supports the development of physical literacy, which is essential for children to participate confidently and competently in a wide range of physical activities.
Fundamental Movement Skills and Learn From Play
For every set of book activities at Learn From Play we have created a physical activity which could be creative or sports based. For those who have not yet found it, we also have a branch of Learn From Play called “Maths ‘N’ Movement”. This includes hundreds of activities which specifically target the Fundamental Movement Skills and how they can be included when teaching Mathematics. This somewhat less intuitive pairing is designed to make Mathematics more enjoyable and ensure the Fundamental Movement Skills are taught throughout all subjects, beyond just sport lessons.
At Learn From Play, we’re committed to providing innovative and engaging resources that support children’s physical and academic development, and we want them to be the best they can possibly be. In light of this, we are excited to announce that we are currently rewriting all of our Maths ‘N’ Movement activities! These new activities will provide a physically active way to teach Mathematics by combining the development of Fundamental Movement Skills with core mathematical concepts. Where our activities are currently only available from Kindergarten to Year 6, we will be creating a set of Pre-School / Early Years Learning Framework mapped activities and High School activities to get more teenagers engaged and active during their Mathematics lessons.
These updated activities will offer a fun, dynamic, and effective way to teach maths, encouraging children to move, think, and learn simultaneously. By integrating physical activity into Mathematics lessons, we aim to enhance children’s understanding and retention of mathematical concepts while promoting their physical health.
Stay tuned for the launch of our new Maths ‘N’ Movement activities which should be available before the end of this year.
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