The elements of a developmentally appropriate movement framework for young children are described by Mike Jess and Jan McIntyre.

With children (and adults) becoming increasingly less active, we in the Developmental Physical Education Group at the University of Edinburgh have been working to construct a vision of pre-school physical education - a task all the more important in the light of current thinking and attitudes towards physical development.

Our experience suggests that although early years educators readily acknowledge the importance of movement in children's development, movement by itself is more often considered as a channel to children's cognitive, social and/or emotional development than an important feature of learning in its own right. In fact, movement often appears to only become an issue when significant developmental delay is identified.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Unlimited access to news and opinion

  • Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here