Movement Education

1. MOVEMENT EDUCATION

2. What is movement education?
• Movement education is a framework which provides children with
the required knowledge to develop essential motor skills which can
be implemented in all aspects of movement. (Weiller Abels, 2010)
• The idea is that children are taught not only the potential of their
bodies, but also the limitations based on the individual. Through
movement education, students are able to experience personal
growth, as well as further develop basic and advanced skills.

3. • The skills attained through movement education are the building
blocks for the development of unique movement sequences which
are essential for future involvement in physical activity and leading an
active lifestyle. (Lubans et al, 2010)
• Specific skill categories taught include locomotor (e.g. Running),
object control (e.g. throwing and catching) and stability (e.g.
balancing). (Lubans et al, 2010)

4. Strengths as a teaching approach
• It can be said that children are more willing to become engaged in an
activity if they know that they are capable of performing the required
movements involved. By being competent in a range of movement
skills, students will develop the confidence to participate in physical
activities and sports during their leisure time. This is further justified
by (Wrotniak et al, 2006), who states that children who possess better
movement and motor skills are more likely to actively engage in
physical activity and sports compared to those who have lesser
developed skills.

5. • Another strength this program has as a teaching approach is
highlighted by (Lubans et al, 2010), who believes that the attainment
of movement skills at a young age has been accredited to the
progress of physical, cognitive and social development. This means
that not only do movement skills develop the child physically, but it
also has cognitive and social benefits. Cognitively, it strengthens the
child's decision making process, in which they gain an understanding
of which movements are required for each activity ,as well as spacial
recognition. Social benefits include the development of the child’s
vocabulary and bodily language. They will be able to increasingly
express themselves through movements and skills acquired during
the learning phase.

6. • Movement education can also provide students with the knowledge
that every day activities can be made easier and more efficient
through the use of these newly developed skills. This once again helps
with the child’s problem solving and decision making skills as they
choose and adapt motor skills to every day situations.
• By teaching movement education, it allows the students to fulfil the
outcome MOS1.4, which is described as ‘Demonstrates maturing
performances of basic movement and compositional skills in a variety
of predictable situations’. (BOSTES, 2007)

7. Reference list
Weiller Abels, K. (2010). Teaching movement education. Human Kinetics.
Lubans, D. R., Morgan, P. J., Cliff, D. P., Barnett, L. M., & Okely, A. D. (2010). Fundamental movement
skills in children and adolescents. Journal of sports medicine.
Wrotniak, B. H., Epstein, L. H., Dorn, J. M., Jones, K. E., & Kondilis, V. A. (2006). The relationship
between motor proficiency and physical activity in children. Pediatrics.
Board of Studies, NSW. (2007). Personal development, health and physical education K-6: Syllabus.
Sydney, Australia: Author.