Have you ever declined an invitation to go golfing or sat on the sidelines at a slo-pitch game because you don't feel you have the skills required to play? Expanding your 'movement vocabulary' at any age can open up more opportunities for sport and recreation.

Fundamental movement skills are the building blocks of teaching and learning movement. Just as learning the A-B-C’s and 1-2-3’s allow us to read, write and count, developing fundamental movement skills help build the foundation that will allow us to move with competence and confidence, giving us more opportunities to stay healthy and physically active throughout the lifespan.

Fundamental movement skills can be broken down into stability skills such as twisting, bending, collapsing, dodging, rolling, twirling, balancing, turning, swinging, stopping, pushing, pulling, bending, stretching; locomotor skills such as walking, running, skipping, hopping, jumping, leaping, galloping, cycling, swimming, sliding, gliding, skating; and object manipulative skills such as catching, throwing, kicking, trapping, striking. Developing a strong foundation of fundamental movement skills allow us to put these together into more complex movements – just as letters and words put together make sentences! These skills don’t just translate to sport specific skills – we need these skills to participate in day-to-day life whether you are a firefighter or simply a grandparent who wants to keep up and play with your grandchildren.

Learning to become competent in a variety of fundamental movement skills is an essential part of the development of physical literacy and it’s actually simple to do! So skip your way to the park, hop to the dinner table, brush your teeth on one foot and wiggle until you giggle!

Visit http://60minkidsclub.org/ for a breakdown of fundamental movement skills and lessons and activities for learning!

Additional Resources:

Physical Literacy: Building a New Normal for more information on developing FMS throughout the lifespan  

PLAY Parent - A survey and information tool to help parents support their child’s development of fundamental movement skills