Are We Losing Our Moves? Why Movement Skills Matter More Than Ever

Do you remember climbing trees, skipping, or playing football until your mum yelled you in for dinner? Those simple games weren’t just fun, they were quietly building the balance, coordination and confidence that help us move well for life.

Today, children aren’t getting those same chances. Around the world, researchers are finding that many kids are struggling with the basic building blocks of movement, things like running, hopping, throwing or balancing.¹

What’s really going on?

Over the past few decades, children’s movement fundamentals - the simple skills that underpin all activity - have started to slip.²

There are a few likely reasons:

• More screens, less play. Children now spend record time on screens, often sitting for long periods instead of playing actively.³

• Less outdoor freedom. Busy roads, safety concerns and packed schedules can keep kids indoors.

• Pandemic setbacks. Lockdowns made it harder for children to explore, play and practise new movements.⁴

• PE pressures. While the National Curriculum promotes physical literacy, not all schools have enough space, time or trained staff to support quality movement learning.

The result? Many children are less physically confident and less active than kids were a generation ago.

Why does it matter?

Children who move well tend to enjoy being active,  and that love of movement carries into teenage years and adulthood.When those early skills are missing, the impact can spread wider than you might think:

• Lower activity levels. Children who find movement tricky often avoid games or sports.⁵

• Weaker fitness and health. Strong movement foundations help build healthy hearts, bones and muscles.⁶

• Learning and focus. Fine motor skills,  like handwriting or cutting,  depend on good overall coordination.⁷

• Confidence and wellbeing. Feeling “clumsy” can chip away at self-esteem and make kids less likely to join in.⁸

  
  

The good news: it’s never too late

Movement skills can always be improved,  and learning them can be fun for the whole family. Here are a few simple ways to help your child rediscover the joy of moving:

1. Play little and often. Ten minutes of chasing, skipping or jumping can do wonders.

2. Keep it playful, not pressured. Let children explore movement through imagination and fun.

3. Add variety. Encourage climbing, throwing, balancing, dancing - all movement counts.

4. Join in together. Go for walks, kick a ball, dance in the kitchen or come to one of our family classes. Kids copy what they see!

5. Celebrate effort, not just success. Confidence grows when children feel proud of trying.

Small steps each day build coordination, confidence and the lifelong habit of movement.

Let’s help our kids move again

Movement isn’t about perfect technique or competitive sport. It’s about helping children feel capable in their bodies, in short it’s about developing physical literacy. Whether it’s playground games, PE, cycling to school or dancing in the living room, every move matters.

References

1. Longitudinal studies on children’s movement skills (Frontiers in Psychology, 2015).

2. Global review of fundamental movement skills (Journal of Sports Sciences, 2020).

3. WHO Global Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour (2020).

4. Impacts of COVID-19 on children’s motor competence (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021).

5. “Negative spiral” model linking motor competence and activity (Preventive Medicine Reports, 2015).

6. Associations between movement skills, fitness and health (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2024).

7. Teacher reports of declining fine motor skills (The Times, 2023).

8. Perceived motor competence and confidence (Sports Medicine, 2025).