Young Children Need to Move Often and Move Better!

By ensuring that your children move often and in variety of ways, (especially when they are young), you are giving them a priceless gift and a head start in life. It is our responsibility as parents and as teachers to inspire, encourage and teach children to move more and to move better. Movement skills also build the foundation for academic success and success in many other aspects of life.

These fundamental skills should be learned and practiced when the brain is creating new and permanent neural connections in the early years. The early development of balance, motor skills, spatial awareness, and physical coordination all support the cognitive learning skills, such as reading, writing, sequencing, memory, focus and concentration. Movement also helps students to build effective communication skills and team work. For example, students learn patience, cooperation, turn-taking and planning.

7 Ways to encourage your child to move

1. A set of simple equipment will make it easy to create fun games and physical challenges. Bouncy balls are great for aiming, throwing and catching. Ropes are excellent for skipping, jumping and hopping activities. Hula hoops can be used for hopscotch and to create obstacle courses.

2. Kids love a challenge. Find ways to make activities more and more challenging as your child’s skill level develops.

3. Praise and encouragement are essential for a child’s self-confidence. Support your child’s feeling of being physically competent. The sense of accomplishment and exposure to moving, doing, repeating and achieving gives immediate and lasting benefits.

4. Encourage repetition. This creates muscle memory and strengthens neural pathways that prepare the brain for later learning.

5. Move together. We should ALL be moving regularly. Moving together as a family is the best way to move. The quality time you spend with your child is invaluable and memorable, not to mention lots of fun!

6. Failing and losing are important lessons. These experiences help to develop self- regulation and self-confidence, which are all part of helping your child develop in a happy and healthy child. Children also need to learn how to deal with disappointment when faced with adversity. These are are important life skills.

7. Encourage your children to move. Have fun moving with them, be proud of them as they become more coordinated,confident, strong and active.

Writer: Darlene Koskinen, Founder and CEO of MoovKids. www.moovkids.com