3 myths about raising active and successful kids

All of us—parents, caregivers, educators, coaches—know kids need to be moving to be healthy. Active play is essential to holistic development.

Physical activity in the form of active play helps kids develop fundamental movement skills and physical literacy, and it helps them live happy, healthy lives. 

So how can we encourage them to move and play? Helping your child enjoy being active doesn’t have to be challenging, and parents and caregivers can play a big role by modelling the importance of physical activity. Here are three common myths that we want to debunk.

Myth #1: Kids will learn all the skills they need on their own

Kids play. That’s what they do. But playing is more than just fun! 

Play, especially active play, is so powerful and essential that the United Nations has recognized play as a fundamental right of children. The UN statement is in recognition of the research that shows kids need play to grow physically, intellectually, socially, and emotionally.

Parents may not realize that children need a wide variety of movement experiences to develop physical literacy, which is the key to raising children who will feel competent, confident and enjoy moving.

Just like healthy eating is about a range of wholesome food, healthy movement is built through a variety of skills: Running, climbing, balancing, throwing, catching, dancing, rough-and-tumble play, outdoor play, and free play. These all help children build different physical, social, emotional, and cognitive skills. These early experiences create the foundation for confidence, competence, and lifelong participation in physical activity.

Our recommendation: It’s great to spend time playing with your children. As you play with them, why not try fun games that will help your child learn fundamental skills that will stand them in good stead in all aspects of their life? Here are some more games too. 

Myth #2: Teachers and coaches will teach my kids the skills they need to know

Many parents feel that their main responsibility is to make sure their kids succeed academically. It’s not that parents don’t understand the importance of physical activity, but they assume that coaches and teachers will teach their kids the physical skills they need.

In reality, parents are and remain their child’s first teachers, and this applies to physical skills as much as academic skills. And you can’t start too early. From birth to age six, children benefit from developing what many experts call the ABCs of movement—agility, balance, coordination, speed—by playing in a variety of ways everyday. 

It’s important to realize that these functional skills are good for life. When developed in early childhood, the ABCs of movement ensure that you can move with confidence and competence through life. And if you’re into sport, understand that not every child who develops these foundations will become an athlete. But without them, no child can. 

Our recommendation: Realize that you are your child’s first teacher of all skills, especially physical skills. You can help teach your child movement skills by playing with them in many different ways. Don’t be afraid if you’re not sporty yourself. It’s not about turning your child into an Olympian; it’s about teaching good skills and active habits early in life. Get to know the fundamental skills for your child’s age and just play!

Myth #3: My child isn’t an athlete, so sports aren’t for them

There are no natural-born athletes. Research now shows that the brain is not static. Early experiences, movement, play, and practice help build the brain’s architecture over time.

In other words, the brain adapts and develops according to what we repeatedly do and experience. The skills children practice, the games they play, and the environments they grow up in all help shape how they move, learn, and perform. This is true from birth to the early years to teenagehood, and some believe, into adulthood.

The short video below from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University explains how experiences help build the developing brain.

Our recommendation: Don’t fall into the clichés of “sporty” versus “non-sporty” or “athletic” versus “non-athletic.” Instead, look at physical literacy as a way to help your children develop as well-rounded people. There are all kinds of activities your child might enjoy—from team sports to solo activities like rock climbing, horseback riding, or dance. 

In the end, our body is our window to the world. Whether your children become artists, business moguls, or professional athletes, their bodies will be their main tools for expressing themselves and for relating to the world around them. 

The winning formula

The formula is simple: Play with your child, and play fun games that will help them develop fundamental movement skills. With new skills, your child’s confidence will improve. With skills and confidence, their level of enjoyment will grow. Having more fun during play and movement will better set your child up to become active for life.

Editor’s note: This article was published on Oct. 29, 2012.