From practice to progress: Do children need to be taught movement skills?
The Voice of Early ChildhoodShow Notes
This article and podcast episode explore how young children develop Fundamental Movement Skills through repeated, varied experiences and attuned adult guidance. Dr Leanne Jaye highlights the balance between structured support and child‑led exploration, the impact of movement on confidence, communication and social connection, and the crucial role practitioners and caregivers play in shaping high‑quality, enjoyable movement opportunities.
Read the article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/from-practice-to-progress-do-children-need-to-be-taught-movement-skills/
This episode is in partnership with BookedIn.
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Listen to more: If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: · Fostering a love of movement for life, by Josh Candy: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/fostering-a-love-of-movement-for-life/ · Physical development frameworks, by Dr Lala Manners: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/physical-development-frameworks/ · 'My child can't write yet': The foundations of early writing, by Helen Battelley: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/my-child-cant-write-yet-the-foundations-of-early-writing/
Get in touch and share your voice: Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/
Episode break down: 00:00 - Welcome 01:35 - Introducing Dr Leanne Jaye 03:09 - Do children pick up movement skills naturally? 05:26 - What are fundamental movement skills? 06:56 - Why movement needs greater attention in educator training 08:49 - Recognising when movement skills need support 11:48 - Unequal opportunities for movement development 15:12 - Looking at how children move, not just whether they move 17:36 - Making movement part of the whole day 19:04 - Repetition, practice and brain development 21:16 - Building children's movement vocabulary 25:39 - Keeping repetition playful through stories and games 28:48 - How environments shape movement opportunities 31:47 - Creating movement opportunities in smaller indoor spaces 34:30 - What to notice when observing children's movement 38:47 - Teaching movement: everyday practice and specialist support 41:27 - Educators as movement role models 43:40 - Bringing movement into other areas of learning 46:13 - Supporting independence without stepping in too quickly 50:49 - Final reflections: integrating movement across learning
For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com
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