Physical Literacy and the Physical Literacy and the Young Child Young Child

Patricia Maude MBE

Homerton College, University of Cambridge, England

Child DevelopmentChild Development

processes of growth and maturation in infancy

developing movement competencelanguage learning through movementmovement learning through language

Processes of Growth and Processes of Growth and Maturation in InfantsMaturation in Infants

neural development

sensori-motor development

cephalo-caudal development

proximo-distal development

Enabling Early DevelopmentEnabling Early Development

Physical activity as the stimulus for:

brain developmentdevelopment of movement competencelanguage development

Enabling EnvironmentsEnabling Environments

locations – indoors and outdoors

resources – natural, created and manufactured

significant others

Enabling ActivityEnabling Activity

Free play

Guided play

Structured play

Language and MovementLanguage and Movement

‘Movement is a child’s first language’ (Kiphard and Schilling (1994)

Body Language – non-verbal communicationfacial, posturaltouching, pointingreaching, clapping, waving

Enabling Language Learning Enabling Language Learning through Movementthrough Movement

Key movement vocabulary related to language learning includes:

nounsverbsadverbsspatial vocabularyshort phrases

Enabling Movement Learning Enabling Movement Learning through Languagethrough Language

accurate vocabulary

applicable vocabulary

Lucidity Principles

Practical Intelligence

Example of Movement Categories and Vocabulary Example of Movement Categories and Vocabulary

Balance – vocabulary to enhance stable support and postural controlon front on back on side on bottom on hands and feet on hands and knees on knees on feet on one hand and one foot

on one foot sliding upside-down as in handstand on elevated, wide and narrow surfaces rocking scooting biking floating

Locomotion – vocabulary to enhance travel from place to place creeping slithering crawling stepping walking jogging running rolling skipping galloping

pulling pushing swinging climbing wading swimming

 

Flight – vocabulary to enhance projecting oneself off the ground and back down to landlanding on two feet taking off jumping up jumping along jumping onto jumping off jumping over

landing on one foot hopping hopscotch leaping abseiling jumping with turn assisted flight

 Manipulationholding feeling grasping gripping drawing tracing guiding cutting pegging threading

moulding typing mouse -management picking up receiving a rolled object catching – from bounce and throw

 

Projectiongrasping releasing placing rolling bouncing throwing striking heading aiming kicking

punting volleying licking flinging spinning skimming serving driving putting goal shooting

Constructionpicking up lifting carrying arranging assembling adjusting stacking building dismantling storing

 

Communication (non-verbal)pointing waving clapping smiling frowning leaning bowing curtsying turning towards turning away

Expressive Movement VocabularyExpressive Movement Vocabulary

whirl shrink gather glide leap

bound spin crawl slither

scatter dash soar drag pause crouch burst whip plunge

zigzag tremble skim scurry hop rock skip wander toss

twirl press push tiptoe creep collapse expand clap rise

fall shrivel close open encircle flutter hover arch sway

wander settle crumble twist turn shatter run tap freeze

(Source; Adapted from Homerton College P E Department 1998: 79)

Physical Literacy through Movement Physical Literacy through Movement and Languageand Language

Enabling young children to achieve:optimum movement competenceeffective language and communication

development a physically active lifestyle intrinsic motivation and self confidence