Introduction: Early development of fundamental movement skills (FMS) has various health, social, emotional, cognitive, and physical benefits. However, reports indicate children's motor skill proficiencies are diminishing. Therefore, the early childhood years and early childhood educators are vital for providing opportunities for FMS development,…

The preschool years are essential for developing physically active lifestyles and social-emotional well-being. This article introduces the PASS (Physical Activity and Social Skills) physical education program, which identifies specific ways to develop fundamental motor skills, provide physical activity opportunities, and promote social-emotional…

The article analyzes experience of professional training of future specialists in physical culture and sports in higher educational establishments of Norway and Sweden. Research papers dealing with practice of realization of professional training of specialists in physical culture and sports abroad have been analyzed. Topicality of the research of…

Several recent studies revealed that physical activity programs that focus on fundamental motor skills could enhance both motor and social performance. The purpose of this pilot was to explore whether the social impairment of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) moderated the motor outcomes of a physical activity program. Nine children with ASD…

Learning ought to be supported by both in class activities and outdoor activities contributing to structuring knowledge. Outdoor activities allow children to actively participate and to learn by doing. Learning requires a lot of work and activities. These activities, which provide primary experiences, help children to change theoretical knowledge…

Background: Previous studies of mastery motivational climates within physical education have reported that providing students with opportunities to become self-directed leads to a number of positive outcomes, including skill attainment and increased perceptions of ability. Nonetheless, within all of these studies, there has been no account of the…

This paper describes the use of robotics in an Early Years classroom as a tool to aid the development of technological skills in a creative environment rich with literacy and numeracy opportunities. The pilot project illustrates how a three-phase process can result in the development of: (1) emergent literacy and numeracy, (2) digital access for…

Little attention has been given to the developmental process of "how children learn to move" and the changing role that emerging motor competence may play in children and youths' physical activity levels as they grow. But we need to recognize that there is a developmental trajectory to physical activity and the factors that affect it if we are…

The Children's Developmental Play Program at Jacksonville State University (Alabama) encourages fine and gross motor skills in developmentally disabled children while simultaneously improving self-concept and optimizing risk taking behaviors. (SB)

A 10-day aquatics program for learning disabled children with hand-eye coordination problems and low self-esteem is described. Activities for each session (including relaxation exercises) are listed. (CL)

The movement approach to teaching soccer is appropriate on the elementary level because the skills can be self-learned through problem solving, exploration, and guided discovery. (JMF)

A unit using hula hoop activities helped 15 educable mentally retarded elementary students improve physically and socially and increased their self-esteem. (CL)

Dance has the potential to create a free and open environment for both personal growth and skill acquisition; it serves to develop kinesthetic acuity, teach competencies with direct transfer to sport, and enhance the self-concepts of the children in the program. (JMF)

Evaluated a daily exercise program to determine the impact on Head Start children's physical fitness. Found that children in treatment programs improved in strength, balance, endurance, and enthusiasm. Children in comparison programs showed little physical improvement. Parent components of the program included workshops, newsletters, activity…

The University of Massachusetts has designed a preschool laboratory gym program for 2 1/2 - 5 year olds to encourage the development of a wide range of abilities, specifically, to provide practice in climbing, balancing, hanging, jumping, running, sliding, swinging, and ball handling. (JMF)