Improving motor skills one step at a time!

According to a recent study by Dr Louise Hardy, “Prevalence and correlates of low fundamental movement skill competency in children”, published in the international journal Paediatrics, most children are unskilled at basic movements such as throwing, running and jumping. This lack of fundamental movement (or gross motor) skills is a direct result of sedentary lifestyles. And without basic movement skills children are far less likely to participate in sports or play with their friends, have lower fitness levels and are more prone to being overweight or obese.

But a lack of basic movement skills is not only affecting the physical health of our children, it can also have a lasting impact on their emotional wellbeing and academic performance.

Gross motor activities stimulate the basic foundations of physical, social, emotional and cognitive development. The skills learned through practising these actions are required for school readiness and inherently develop fine motor skills which are a precursor for literacy, numeracy and activities of daily living such as independent dressing and toileting.

Unfortunately, in Australia today many children are not being given the chance to adequately acquire these motor skills, with statistics showing that the average child spends far less than the recommended 60 minutes per day exercising and a staggering 32.5 hours each week in front of the television.

But why? We live in a privileged country where we have access to leading education and world-class sporting facilities. While it seems that this shouldn’t be the case, there are a number of contributing factors, including:

• Dual income working families and a lack of time for active play.
• Environmental changes including smaller backyards and restricted space for physical pursuits.
• Security and safety concerns that limit a child’s ability to just “go to the park” with their friends.
• The digital world – X-Box, PlayStation, iPads, DVDs and computers.

Most importantly, however, many parents mistakenly believe that children naturally learn fundamental movement skills. But children need to be taught them, and this is particularly so given the reasons outlined above.

“We need to make time to encourage our children away from sedentary activities and help facilitate a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Stuart Derbyshire, Managing Director of Ready Steady Go Kids. “Through organised sports children learn essential skills they carry for life.”

Ready Steady Go Kids is Australia’s leading preschool sport and exercise program. Popular for its high-quality, physio-designed classes which teach two-and-a-half to seven year olds the fundamentals of 10 different sports, the program aims to:

• Introduce preschoolers to a variety of sports in a structured, safe, inclusive and non-competitive environment.
• Demonstrate that sport and physical activity are fun and instil positive attitudes towards exercise that last a lifetime.
• Develop and enhance age-appropriate gross motor skills, coordination and correct posture; ensuring critical movement skills are taught and reinforced.
• Build confidence and self-esteem by exposing preschoolers to a number of sports and allowing them to “figure out” what they like and what they are good at.
• Teach the importance of good sportsmanship and teamwork.
• Boost school readiness by incorporating skills such as concentration, listening, following directions and basic concepts of colours, numbers and shapes.

“Our program demonstrates to children, and parents alike, that sports are fun”, said Mr Derbyshire.”

“The variety of sports we offer keeps participants engaged and allows us to teach a wide range of activities which develop gross motor, fine motor and coordination functions,” said Ready Steady Go Kids National Training and Quality Manager, Julie Winter.

“Our franchisees and instructors undergo intensive training before commencement because its so important that they are aware of the significance of developing motor skills and how best they can integrate them into classes whilst maintaining an enjoyable environment for children.”

Amy Bennetts, Ready Steady Go Kids franchisee for the Gippsland region commented: “As an early years primary school physical education teacher I have seen so many children of that age group lacking basic movement skills, which in turn effects their self-confidence and flows into other areas of their learning. This is why I believe getting them involved in sport in a fun, non-competitive environment as early as possible is so important. In our program we not only teach new and age-appropriate motor skills, we also reinforce what the children already know. Part of this is celebrating skills they have already mastered, which increases self-confidence. Physical skills such as throwing, running, jumping and hopping are not naturally mastered as some people believe. We teach these skills correctly at a foundation level, giving children the best possible chance to succeed when they start school.”

“I truly believe sport improves a child’s confidence, concentration and overall capacity to learn,” Carmen Dodds, Ready Steady Go Kids franchise owner for Western Melbourne and qualified paediatric occupational therapist said. “The benefits of a preschooler participating in a program like Ready Steady Go Kids, where so many skills are taught, are endless.”

With over 100 locations nationally and plans for an additional 50 locations in 2013 – plus a growing international presence in Singapore and the United Kingdom – the Ready Steady Go Kids program is becoming increasingly accessible.

“We want preschoolers all over the world to have access to our program at this critical time in their development,” said Mr Derbyshire. “While the statistics are worrying Ready Steady Go Kids is actively working to address the major issue of gross motor deficiency. If we can build a foundation that supports ongoing participation in sport then we’ve done our job and we’ve provided our children with the best possible start in life.”