This article addresses how to design developmental games that connect knowledge about motor development with motor learning. As evidenced in the SHAPE America National Standards and Grade-level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education, understanding children's phases and stages of motor development is essential to designing developmentally appropriate…

The NASPE standards for physical education programs stress that students should not only achieve competence in physical skills but also acquire and integrate the underlying concepts that can lead to effective movement. Physical educators can successfully embed these underlying concepts into the daily skill instruction and guided practice in their…

An eight-year-old autistic boy improved his communication and behavior skills after three months in a treatment program using walking rails and focusing on body awareness activities designed to reduce autistic movements. (CL)

This paper reviews and analyzes the term "exploration" as used with selected models associated with the instruction of children. (MT)

Drawing upon stages of motor development and elements of biomechanics, the authors used anatomical planes as a frame of reference to determine movement patterns and assess readiness to perform movement skills. The combination of determining readiness and analyzing skill enables the teacher to plan proper motor skill activities. (MT)

A recent development in elementary physical education is the use of Schema theory as a basis for teaching and understanding the acquisition of motor skills by children. This theory suggests how children learn and perform a variety of movements. (DF)

A comprehensive model for organizing different approaches used in presenting dance movements focuses on the essential content of movement for elementary school children and examines the development of dance for young children from functional movement to more artistic experiences. (JN)

Both physical education and youth sport are essential for the motor development of children. Sport-specific skills should be built on a sound movement foundation. Children need to be allowed to mature and to develop to higher levels of proficiency before being thrust into a competitive environment. (JN)

Teachers who communicate a clear intent to improve students' motor performance present tasks holistically, concretely, and briefly. Movement skills in a physical education lesson are developed primarily by presenting and working with tasks while students are actually moving. (JN)

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)

Initiating change in preschool and elementary schools could enhance childrens' present physical fitness and help them understand and achieve physical fitness in adulthood. Mastering motor skills and locomotor patterns in early childhood is important to future physical development. A new direction for physical activity programs is offered. (DF)

The goals of the HOPE (Health and Optimum Physical Education) project are described in this document as follows: to design and field test a model program in elementary physical education that would measurably improve children in fitness, motor skills, and knowledge and understanding of physical education and would contribute to improvement in…

This article discusses the critical developmental factors in the modeling of motor skills and suggests practical implications for teachers of young children. Major factors for successful modeling involve the students' cognitive-developmental level and the students' motivational orientation. CJ)

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

There are enormous differences in a child's ability to learn and perform movement skills. The mastery learning model matches student needs to quality and quantity of teaching. This article summarizes findings from mastery learning research in the cognitive domain and offers suggestions for applications of the mastery strategy. (DF)