Building Physical Literacy Through Play →

Before children can master skills, compete in sport, or specialise in anything — they need something more fundamental: a foundation for movement.

This is called physical literacy — a child’s ability to move with competence, confidence, and creativity across a wide range of activities and environments. It’s not about being the fastest or the strongest. It’s about being able to run, jump, balance, hop, twist, roll, throw, catch, and react — all while feeling in control of their body.

And the most powerful way to build it? Play.

In the early years, kids don’t develop through drills or commands. They don’t need to be told how to move — they need opportunities to move. Lots of them. Across different surfaces, directions, speeds, and challenges. They need to explore, problem-solve, fall, laugh, and try again.

Think crawling under things. Chasing. Climbing. Jumping off. Spinning around. Dodging. Balancing. Throwing and catching. All of these experiences build the movement “vocabulary” that will later support skill acquisition in any sport — or just in life.

Why does this matter?

Because children who move well are more likely to enjoy physical activity. And kids who enjoy activity are more likely to stick with it long-term — whether that’s in sport, recreation, or simply living a healthy, confident life.

Research shows that early movement experiences are linked to:

• Greater confidence in physical ability

• Higher levels of physical activity in adolescence

• Lower dropout rates in sport

• Better emotional regulation and social skills

So when you see a child playing tag, balancing on a beam, rolling down a hill, or throwing a ball against a wall for the 20th time — know that they’re doing something important. They’re wiring their brain, building coordination, learning about space and timing, and developing the self-belief that “I can move.”

Because before they specialise, they need to move.
Before they compete, they need to play.
And before they become athletes, they need to fall in love with the joy of movement.