Analysis: Children with the ability to move well and with control have the motivation, confidence, physical skill and knowledge needed to stay active for life
As primary schools prepare for the summer break, children and teachers look forward to a well-earned break. Summer brings longer evenings, looser schedules and (hopefully) plenty of sunshine. But while these months once meant more time outdoors with friends, the reality today is more screen time and less playtime.
This shift matters more than you might think. Global obesity rates among children and teens haverisen dramatically from just 8% in 1990 to 20% in 2022. In Ireland, research involving over 8,500 nine year olds showed a clear link between screen time and increased risk of obesity.
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Children who spend more than two hours a day on screens also report lower wellbeing across physical, social and school related domains. Habitual technology use means these unhealthy lifestyle behaviours are unfortunately becoming more common with excessive screen time reducing opportunities for physical activity which fosters social isolation, even in the presence of constant virtual connection.
What is motor competence?
A growing body of research is highlighting the need to focus on a foundational element of healthy development in response to this. Motor competence - the ability to move well and with control - is a key component of what's now commonly referred to as physical literacy. This is a concept encompassing the motivation, confidence, physical skill and knowledge needed to stay active for life.
Motor competence includes basic movement skills like running, jumping, throwing, balancing and kicking. Mastery of these skills at a young age sets children up to participate in a wide range of sports and physical activities later in life.
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Unfortunately, Irish children are falling behind here. A national study found that one in four cannot run properly, one in two cannot kick a ball properly and fewer than one in five can throw a ball properly. These are developmental issues and not just athletic ones. They also point to a wider misconception that children will automatically take to physical activity if we simply offer opportunities to join in. Ultimately, we can't expect children to enjoy or stick with activities that rely on skills they haven't yet developed.
If a child struggles to throw, catch or balance, activities involving these movements can quickly become frustrating or even embarrassing. The result? They’re more likely to opt out, miss out on the fun and social connection, and lose confidence in their physical ability. It’s a vicious cycle that can start young and last for years.
That’s why it’s critical to provide children with opportunities to learn and practise fundamental movement skills at home, in school and through play. We can’t expect them to take part confidently if they haven’t yet developed the basics. Just as you wouldn’t send a child into the deep end of a swimming pool before they can float, we shouldn’t expect them to move well without first learning how and mastering these core movement skills is a necessary first step.
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Why are children struggling?
Several factors are contributing to this decline. Urban children, for example, often lack access to open spaces. Some schools don't have the facilities or time for daily PE or after school sports, and the rise of digital entertainment means that movement, once a part of everyday play, is often sidelined.
Socio-economic background also plays a role, with children from disadvantaged communities more likely to face barriers to physical activity. Regardless of the context, families and schools can still make a difference however.
What can parents do?
Remember, it's about more than sport and you don’t need to be a coach or PE teacher to support a child’s movement development. Small actions count. Understanding simple movement patterns, like how arms and legs move in opposition when running, can help adults give better feedback or model movements correctly. These skills can be practised in small spaces with no equipment, whether in the house or the garden.
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Improving these basic skills does more than bost physical ability. It builds confidence and helps children develop a positive sense of self as someone who can and wants to move. If you are still not sure, there are huge amounts of free resources online guiding you through these movements there are and rest assured that any movement is better than no movement so simply engaging in play with your children will make a big difference
Interestingly, recent research is exploring links between gross motor skills and other areas of finer motor skill development (like handwriting). While the evidence is still emerging, it suggests a broader value in helping children move better. This summer, don't just think about how to keep kids entertained and let’s help them move. By promoting motor competence now, we’re setting them up for healthier, more active, and more confident futures.
This research is currently being carried out at the School of Health and Human Performance in DCU funded by Research Ireland.
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The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
