Fundamental Movement Skills

As a former Physical Education teacher I am aware of the need to develop the Fundamental Movement Skills in children between the ages of 6 and 10. These are the basic building blocks that will give children the competence and confidence to try many different physical activities and sports. This is called physical literacy. These skills enhance student interpersonal, cognitive and emotional development.

Movement principles and skills must be retained right through a person’s life and need to be continually refined. As a person matures they may lose a skill through a lack of use or a lack of physical literacy. Motor development occurs at the same time as cognitive development, neurons that fire together – wire together. If you are missing a fundamental movement skill what cognitive skill is now in jeopardy?

The tests to determine if a skill has been lost or if it is in jeopardy are not difficult, but they are often unusual and described as being fun. Women between the ages of 55 and 70+ can regain and strengthen a skill, often over a short period of time with minimal effort.  The first step is to determine the status of the key skills, the second is to understand how to improve the skill and then retain it for life.  This helps to ensure one obtains the goal of good coordination and stability for life.

Contact us to join a future workshop or to arrange a workshop for your organization.

Jan Murdoch