Supporting children’s physical development from ages 0-7

Supporting children’s physical development from ages 0-7

In order to support learning, kids need to move! This webinar explores the role movement plays in child development from ages 0 to 7 and how teachers can support children to develop the range of gross and fine motor skills they need to build their brains, and the foundations they’ll need for a lifetime of learning.

The webinar is particularly relevant to early childhood teachers and early primary teachers. Our presenter, Gill Connell, is a globally recognised child development expert, specialising in the foundations of learning through movement and play. Gill is co-author of the popular books A Moving Child Is a Learning Child (2013) and Move Play and Learn with Smart Steps (2016).

Click here or Download PDF to view the slides from this webinar.

To help you navigate the webinar easily, there is a list of the key topics covered in the session below, including the time each was discussed. The key ideas discussed in this webinar are also shared in a short insight article (primary and early childhood education).


Topics discussed in this webinar

Times shown in minutes and seconds from the start of the video

2.30What is the connection between movement and learning?
15.14What are the key stages of physical development for children at different ages?
37.40Ensuring movement activities during COVID restrictions
41.04How teachers can be intentional about what they set up for children
46.23How to set up equipment for movement activity
50.02Risky play
54.50How to assist children with physical development
57.41Key messages

Questions for exploring the key ideas from this webinar

How much do you know about the typical sequence of movement development?

How well do you provide for each of the movement nutrition groups?

What do you think about when setting up physical experiences for children?

What learning activities could you adapt to include a physical component?

Which of the children you teach display behaviours and difficulties that indicate a need for  particular movement experiences?

Further reading

Connell, G., & McCarthy, C. (2013). A Moving Child is a Learning Child: How the Body Teaches the Brain to Think. Free Spirit Publishing.

Connell, G., McCarthy, C., & Pirie, W. (2016). Move, Play and Learn with Smart Steps. Free Spirit Publishing.

Click here to view our February 2022 Movement for learning: Q&A with Gill Connell

Download this resource as a PDF

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