Of all the early movement skills, running is the one for which getting the basics right is critical. Most children will start trying to run at around 18 months after plenty of movement experience including rolling, crawling and walking. By two years they can be quite confident and competent, and at 30 months are often running fluently. The mature version of running takes time to acquire, but between four and six years it becomes the most frequently used movement in free play.
The preparation period for streamlined running is important and the refining stage may go on for many years as children become faster, stronger, more agile, competitive and efficient movers. As they grow and develop, apparatus may be included in running activities, such as balls. Different forms may also be explored and enjoyed, such as racing or Parkour.
Once children can run easily, it is a skill that provides endless enjoyment and will be practised whenever and wherever possible. It gives children a sense of speed, agency, achievement and energy that other skills can rarely match.
Development
How long children take to run is entirely individual, depending on previous movement experience, environment, opportunity, temperament and overall body strength. Emerging running may look inefficient and ungainly – with arms held behind and the body tipping forwards – but it is an important stage during which other early movement skills may need continual revisiting to ensure the necessary level of strength, balance and co-ordination is achieved to acquire a more mature running style.
Once well-practised, the stride lengthens and evens out, arms come forward to help propulsion and greater speed is possible.
Importance
Running is a complex skill that forms the basis of many later sports and games. It can also be enjoyed in a variety of forms, such as in a team, as an individual pursuit, competitively or for fun. Running can be free to access and experienced in varied environments over different terrains.
It provides an effective way to raise the heart rate, promote optimum lung function and build overall muscle strength, bone density and joint stability.
Supporting very young children
Try not to interfere in the process of children learning to run and becoming more competent and confident. Correct footwear is vital – wellies and flip-flops don’t help! Barefoot is actually best, if possible.
- Safety is paramount – minimise any possibilities of mishaps before you start; for example, no running with anything in the mouth or when holding toys.
- Practise ‘stop’ each and every time so children do not run too far.
- Children can’t keep running for too long. Lots of short bursts with frequent rests is best – they will often shout when going fast!
- Play indoor running games, such as ‘Sock and rope’ where adults hold a long rope above child head height. Put a sock over the rope and encourage the child to hold both ends tight with one hand. While gripping the sock, run from one end of the rope to the other. Then change hands and return. Or, stand in a circle and encourage a child to run around the perimeter – it’s much harder running in a circle than in a straight line.
- When running outside, check the environment and surfaces are clear and safe. You can then run around trees or benches playing peek-a-boo, or set ‘tasks’ – run to the gate, wait; run to the slide, wait, etc.
- Be aware some children intensely dislike being chased and amend activities accordingly.
Supporting older children
Introduce greater challenge by:
- running up and down gradients that become steeper
- running over different terrains – grass, sand, even air-beds, cushions or bubble-wrap!
- creating slaloms and zig-zags to move around
- running using apparatus; for example, kicking a ball
- combining running with other actions, such as jumping
- exploring running online, such as watching Olympic athletes
- investigating how different animals run.
How we may also benefit
Ideally, join in when the children are running, even if just for a short distance. If running is not a comfortable option then walk as fast as you can on the spot, lifting your knees high and vigorously pumping your arms. Try placing your hands on a table and run with your hands taking your weight. Go as fast as you can for ten seconds, rest and then repeat two more times.
ABOUT THIS SERIES
This is the sixth part of an eight-part series on essential physical skills and how to support them in children from birth to three. Dr Lala Manners is a physical development trainer and director of Active Matters
