In this presentation, Active for Life's Richard Monette introduces the concept of physical literacy, and demonstrates how to engage parents and staff in getting children developing physical literacy.

1. “Born to Move”
AN INTRODUCTION TO
PHYSICAL LITERACY
BY
RICHARD MONETTE
LEAD - Active for Life

3. Answer 3 questions:
1) What is Physical Literacy?
2) Why is Physical Literacy
vital for kids today?
3) How can AFL help you be more
confident in promoting PL?

4. What is
Physical Literacy ?
When we presented the concept to focus groups,
it provoked curiosity…
But the concept is catching on.

5. Physical Literacy
This requires that children have
experiences with many kinds of
activities: on the ground, on snow
and ice, in water, and in the air.
These experiences should be positive
and fun so that children want to:
• do them over and over again
(motivation)
• challenge themselves
(confidence),
• and develop skills that enable
them to participate actively
(competence). Diagram: Mount Royal University's Centre for Child Well-Being

6. Simply put:
“Physical literacy is when
kids have developed the
skills and confidence to be
physically active for life.”

7. Without Physical Literacy…
?
?
?

8. Why is Physical Literacy
vital for kids today?
We (as a society) got into a situation in
which we had to create a concept (PL) for something
that kids have been doing forever…

9. Built to Move
(Moving is in our DNA…)

10. We need a mindset shift:
Kids are born with the capacity to move, but not the SKILLS…

11. SO WHAT?
Today’s Children are the Most Inactive in History – the first
to have a Shorter Life Expectancy than their Parents

12. “Science tells us that all four areas of development work together to build
healthy brains. When children are physically healthy, they are able to learn better
in school. When children are physically active, they are better able to concentrate
and problem solve. All areas of development – the four walls of a child’s house –
must be equally well developed to live a healthy, happy, and productive life. In
other words: you can’t do one without the others!”
Professor Dawne Clark
Mt Royal University's Centre for Child Well-Being.
4 areas of development
work together to build
healthy brains:
• Cognitive development
• Emotional development
• Social development.
• Physical development

13. Physical Literacy is a LIFE-LONG journey

14. How can AFL help you be
more confident in
promoting PL?
You don’t need to be “sporty” to
help kids develop physical literacy…

16. Free Resources for developing physical literacy

17. • The daycare and after school programs already
exist.
• The content to put physical literacy into these
programs is available free of charge on the web
from AFL.
• What is missing is training educators on how
to deliver the content during existing activities and
play time.
Equipping kids to become physically literate,
and as a result active for life,
is neither costly nor complex.

18. “One of the greatest values
of this program is that it
gives educators
confidence,”
Karen Foster-Jorgensen.
Curriculum developed by
the Centre for Child Well-
Being at Mount Royal
University in Calgary
MRU students researching
physical literacy for early
childhood education
Connected BCCC to
local physical
literacy specialist.
Modeling for
educators using free
resources on AFL
Grant for climbing wall
Pilot program is giving children
ages 1-5 years an active start
in early motor skill
development and the ABCs of
physical literacy.
Banff Child Care Centre

19. Design:
Fully funded, 3-arm randomized controlled feasibility study to determine
changes in physical literacy (movement skills and confidence) in young
children (ages 5 to 8)
280 children involved (140 in intervention group + 140 in control group)
Pre-intervention assessment:
January 18 to February 15
Intervention Program:
Specialized after-school program
3 school based, after-school programs participating
Post-intervention assessment:
May 13, 2016
Childcare sector is a cost-effective environment to develop PL

20. • The daycare and after school programs already
exist.
• The content to put physical literacy into these
programs is available free of charge on the web
from AFL.
• What is missing is training educators on how
to deliver the content during existing activities and
play time.
Equipping kids to become physically literate,
and as a result active for life,
is neither costly nor complex.

21. P.S.
It’s the
quiet majority
we must engage…

22. Thank you !

23. Free Resources for developing physical literacy
1) Info-graphic: http://activeforlife.com/physical-literacy-2/
2) Activities: http://activeforlife.com/activities/
3) Professional resources: http://activeforlife.com/resources-for-developing-physical-literacy/
• Activities for 0-3 years old: http://activeforlife.com/activities-for-babies-and-toddlers/
• Lessons Plans for -12 years olds: http://activeforlife.com/lesson-plans-and-resources/
• Lessons Plan Builder: http://activeforlife.com/lesson-plans-and-resources-2/
• Lessons Plan Module: http://activeforlife.com/lesson-plan-modules/
• Additional Resources: http://activeforlife.com/lesson-plans-and-resources-3/

24. “Born to Move”
Part 2
ENGAGING PARENTS AND STAFF IN
PHYSICAL LITERACY
BY
RICHARD MONETTE
B2TEN - Active for Life

26. 3 topics:
1) Physical Literacy
2) Engaging the front line (parents and educators)
3) Resources for parents and professionals

27. Physical
Literacy

28. We need a mindset shift:
Kids are born with the capacity to move, but not the SKILLS…

29. Today’s Children are the Most Inactive in History – the first
to have a Shorter Life Expectancy than their Parents
• There has been a rapid and
unprecedented decline in kid’s levels of
physical activity over recent decades
• Today’s kids don’t learn to move early in
life because they play inactive games
indoors rather than active games outdoors
• They spend an average of 8 hours per day
in front of a screen
• Inactivity is making them sick
• The impact on health is material and will
only get worse over time unless corrective
measures are taken
20 YEARS AGO TODAY

30. Just like Reading and Writing - Today’s
Kids need to Learn to Move
• Physical literacy is when kids have developed
the skills and confidence to be physically
active.
• Physically literate kids are more likely to be
active for life.
• Those not physically literate are more likely to
become inactive adults.
• Experts estimate the cost of inactivity, coupled
with smoking and obesity, will double by 2025.

31. Physical Literacy
This requires that children have
experiences with many kinds of
activities: on the ground, on snow
and ice, in water, and in the air.
These experiences should be positive
and fun so that children want to:
• do them over and over again
(motivation)
• challenge themselves
(confidence),
• and develop skills that enable
them to participate actively
(competence). Diagram: Mount Royal University's Centre for Child Well-Being

32. Engaging the front line
(parents and educators)
Why and How

33. GRASSROOTS-UP
(e.g. Mobilize the GATE-KEEPERS such as parents,
teachers, activity leaders, coaches, etc…)
TOP-DOWN
AFL leverages and supports ALL organizations
in the physical literacy sector

34. “Promotion without provision will not
change behaviors… ”
Dr. Dean Kriellaars
Increase # of programs that develop
Physical Literacy
(+ offer)
Increase # of parents who know that
Physical Literacy is good for their kid
(+ demand)

35. Turning SCIENCE into the RIGHT SOUND BITES
can change everything…
8 cups of water a day will:
Physical
Literacy

36. Resources for
Parents and professionals

37. Resources for
parents
Resources for
professionals

38. It is not the strongest of the species
that survive, nor the most
intelligent, but the one most
responsive to change.
Darwin

39. Thank you !