Fundamental movement and sport skills are the basic building
blocks of physical literacy. Running, jumping, throwing,
catching – these are some of the fundamental skills that help
children to move with confidence, enjoy physical activity, and
succeed in sport. Many kids seem awkward when they move, and
they don’t look like they could ever succeed in any sport. Other
children seem “natural born” and they move like athletes and
dancers from a young age. What’s the difference? The “natural
born” have almost always learned to move well at a young age.
They had an active start at an early age, while the children who
move less well were not active in their early years. Children
need to learn and practice fundamental movement and sport skills
throughout the time they are developing as infants and toddlers.
That’s how their bodies learn to move and develop physical
literacy. If a child is “starved” of fundamental movement and
sport skills during the early years, the neurological networks
and muscular structures that