Movement and learning in early childhood education

HomeEarly childhood education resourcesMovement and learning in early childhood education
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Movement and learning in early childhood education

HomeEarly childhood education resourcesMovement and learning in early childhood education

Topic summary

Movement supports learning by stimulating brain development.

Learning to move is complex and effortful. Early movement requires the coordination of sensory tools like sight and touch, reflexes such as spatial awareness, and motor skills like coordination and control. The interrelationship between body and brain as a child learns to move is essential for development and learning.

Movement is vital to learning because if facilitates the development of essential connections in the brain. Movement and language are the essential foundations of children’s learning.

About 90% of the neural pathways in the brain are set during early childhood, and movement and physical activity have been shown to play an important role in this brain development.

Children need repeated and varied opportunities to practise a wide range of physical movements. Repetition and practice are key to developing the levels of automaticity in physical movements that support learning by freeing up working memory capacity.

  • How can we ensure that children received repeated opportunities to engage in developmentally appropriate movement?
  • How can we ensure that opportunities for movement provide different kinds of sensory stimulation?
  • How can we provide opportunities for children to spend time outside every day?
  • How can we set up environments that promote safe but unrestricted movement for children of all ages?

Research reviews

Webinars

Understanding and supporting children’s movement and development

International expert Gill Connell discusses the range of movement patterns children need to be engaging with to support their holistic development

Movement for learning: Q&A with Gill Connell

This webinar is a sequel to our 2021 webinar, exploring the role of movement in children’s learning and development, and how teachers can support children.

Supporting children’s physical development from ages 0-7

Exploring the role movement plays in child development and how teachers can support children to be develop gross and fine motor skills.

Infographics

Movement and Learning in Early Childhood Education

The importance of movement and learning in early childhood education.

Snapshots

Providing challenge and exploring risk in outdoor play

Challenging and risky play provides multiple opportunities for physical and social emotional learning.

Environments and resources that promote agency

Valuing children’s right to advocate for their own and others’ ideas.

Children need to move to learn

Key insights from our webinar with Gill Connell on the importance of movement for learning.
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