Here is an article I wrote a few months ago regarding basic movement skills being taught to kids and why it is important:

Well it’s that time of year again; the start of the school year and another summer has come and gone.  Isn’t it amazing how fast summers go?  With the kids going back to school, that means hitting the books again and lots of homework sandwiched in-between all of their other after school activities.  This also means kids all over will be participating in P.E. class.  I just read an eye opening report from the US News and World Report entitled; “Gym Class Injuries Up 150 Percent”.  In fact, the article stated; “that between 1997 and 2007, the annual number of injuries related to physical education increased 150% from 24,000 in 1997 to about 62,000 in 2007, the scientists said”.  What’s going on here? What is causing this sharp increase in injuries? 

     We’ve all could share our stories of bumps, bruises and breaks growing up playing sports, being active and playing, but are kids today playing as much?  Are they being taught basic movement skills and body awareness at a younger age before middle school?  Kids as young as 2 to 4 years old can be taught basic movement patterns; of course it will be in more exploratory and self discovery environment.  If kids aren’t moving and playing before the 4^th or 5^th grade, they are going to have a more challenging time in developing the motor skills they will need when they get older.  In the report, almost 70% of the injuries happened during running, basketball, football, volleyball, soccer or gymnastics.  Boys were more likely to be injured on the head, during collisions with other kids and during group activities, while girls were more apt to suffer strains and sprains to the legs and be injured during individual activities.  Most of these injuries occurred among kids in middle school. 

     As I’ve stated before, I believe sports are important and teach many wonderful life skills as well, but I believe proper movement skills should be taught first before sports.  Many kids in P.E. all across the country are being taught how to play sports rather than being given any type of basic training in movement and body awareness in elementary schools.  How many kids in P.E. are even doing any type of proper warm-up before the activity?  Most injuries with girls occur due to non-contact injuries to the knee especially as they start to play organized sports.  Many of these injuries with our boys and girls can be avoided if they are taught at a young age.  Things like balance, rhythm, spatial awareness, movement adequacy, etc, all through game play.  Once kids get a better understanding of these things, then they can progress into more advanced and challenging activities and sports.  Let the kids learn as many sports as possible, let them make up different games that challenge their balance, strength and reactivity. 

     I write a parent challenge every month for Today’s Teen magazine, a parent resource magazine.  I would like to challenge all parents with kids in elementary school to ask them or the school administrators what types of activities they are going to be doing in their P.E. class throughout the year.  Become more vigilant about what’s being taught and what’s not; the more global based movement patterns, the better.  Let’s make this a safe and great active school year for all the kids out there!