The traditional approach for teaching physical education in early elementary school has emphasized "fun" activities and many low-organized games. For very young children, ages three through about eight years of age, the curricular time that has been used for low-organized and competitive games can be substituted with more developmentally appropriate activities, especially for preschoolers. The stages of parallel and cooperative play require activities designed to facilitate skill development and control of one's body, its locomotion, and basic manipulation skills. Providing developmentally appropriate movement activities designed for individual success, self-esteem, and more control of one's movement should be the goal in elementary school movement programs. The developmental approach, with its emphasis on learning skills and learning to move skillfully, is needed in early childhood more than the traditional, low-organized game approach. (Contains 2 tables.)