Physical Literacy For Children

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All children need opportunities to be physically active in order to: discover the connection this creates between themselves and the world; learn how and why their bodies move to reduce the chances of injury later in life; and build the competence and confidence that comes with being physically literate.

Children who have less physical skills tend to play less, have fewer opportunities to develop physical literacy and are more likely to withdraw from physical activity, sometimes for a lifetime. Children as young as six years old begin to withdrawal from physical activity, especially in group situations.

Just as parents ensure their children have opportunities to learn to read, write and do mathematics, they should also ensure their children become physically literate.

• Why is Physical Literacy Important for My Child?

  • A physically literate child knows and understands that their body operates in a complex web. School aged children who are physically active: have better concentration skills and do better in school; develop strong bones and muscles, hand-eye coordination and good posture; have better sleeping patterns, reduced anxiety, and a healthier body weight; and have opportunities to enhance their social skills, develop emotional maturity and practice their leadership abilities.

    A physically literate child has the confidence to pursue physical activities and to enjoy the benefits of a healthy body. They develop the resiliency required to have a healthy lifestyle.

• How Can I Help My Child Become Physically Literate?

  • Children who have opportunities to be physically active everyday are more likely to become physically literate. Physically active children participate in movements that increase their heart rate and breathing. Physical Health Canada recommends that all children accumulate 60 minutes of moderate (e.g. playground activities, bike riding) to vigorous (e.g. running, swimming) intense physical activity daily.

    Each child is unique and is therefore attracted to physically activity differently. Parents are pivotal in helping their children find physical activities that best suit the individual energy levels and personal preferences.

    Children have multiple opportunities to practice their fundamental movement skills and develop their motor abilities in physical activities such as dance, outdoor exercises, individual pursuits, group games, gymnastics, swimming and skating. When children are involved in a broad range of physical activities they are more likely to pick up a wider range of physical literacy skills.

• Tips for Physical Literacy

  • Start with yourself—become role model for active and healthy living! If you are not sure, take a class—your child is learning from what you do.

    Build awareness—make decisions that create daily opportunities for active family fun, talk about how and why our bodies move, and invite research on physical literacy topics.

    Advocate and look for programs that promote physical literacy.

    Create an environment that balances your child’s natural abundance of energy and their developmental needs with safe and challenging play using fundamental movement skills to develop your child’s motor abilities.

• Activity Ideas

  • There are many ways to provide your child with opportunities to develop their physical literacy skills. Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services offer a large variety of programs which promote physical literacy. Our programs are designed to allow children the opportunity to practice their fundamental movement skills and develop their motor abilities while introducing them to emotional and social concepts such as communication, self-awareness, cooperation and teamwork. Physical Literacy programs are offered after school at most of the Burnaby elementary schools, as well as in our facilities.

Programs Focusing on Physical Literacy for Children

Drop-in Programs

Badminton | Children’s Badminton and Basketball Drop-in | Drop-in Basketball | Family Badminton | Family drop-in sports | Family Gym | Family Sport Zone | Family Skate | Family Swim | Inline Skating | Summer Playground Services

What is Physical Literacy?

Physical literacy is fun and simple, yet basic for a healthy life. It benefits every aspect of the physical functioning of our bodies. Physical literacy involves developing the fundamental movement skills and motor activities that you need to move with competence and confidence in all environments. Physical literacy is also about awareness and the social, emotional and cognitive qualities that everyone needs to move. For example, self-regulation requires you to creatively and strategically apply and analyze different forms of large and fine muscle movements their body makes in relationship to the environment.

Preschoolers The best way to develop a physically literate preschool aged child is to give them daily structured and unstructured activities. Find out more »

Children A physically literate child has the confidence to pursue physical activities and enjoy the benefits of a healthy body. Find out more »

Myth: It Just Happens

While it’s true that some children develop physical skills on their own by trial-and-error, many do not. Children who have less physical skills tend to play less, have fewer opportunities to develop physical literacy and are more likely to withdraw from physical activity, sometimes for a lifetime.

Children who are physically skilled are easily motivated to seek out large amounts of vigorous healthy play; yet even children who enjoy physical activity are less likely to have these opportunities in today’s world. As a society we have become more inactive as we wrestle with screen time, smaller families and fewer safe outdoor play areas. Also even children that easily acquire physical skills require opportunities to safely learn how and why their bodies move to reduce the chances of injury later in life.

Helpful Resources