When we think about children's sporting development, we often focus on learning the rules of a game, improving technique or developing the skills needed to play a particular sport. But before children can confidently kick a football, hit a badminton shuttlecock or take part in team games, they need to develop something more fundamental: the ability to move well.
Fundamental movement skills form the foundation of children's physical development. They help children explore different activities, participate in PE lessons and build the confidence to try new sports and challenges.
So, what are these skills, and why are they so important during the primary school years?
What Are Fundamental Movement Skills?
Fundamental movement skills are the basic movements children learn as they develop control, coordination and confidence in physical activity. They are often grouped into three main categories.
1. Locomotor skills
These involve moving the body from one place to another. Examples include running, jumping, hopping, skipping and galloping.
Children use these movements in playground games, athletics, team sports and many everyday activities.
2. Object-control skills
These involve controlling or manipulating objects using different parts of the body. Examples include throwing, catching, kicking, striking and rolling.
Developing these skills helps children participate in sports such as football, basketball, badminton and tennis, as well as a wide range of PE activities.
3. Balance and stability skills
These involve maintaining control of the body while stationary or moving. Examples include balancing on one foot, landing safely after a jump, changing direction and maintaining stability during movement.
These skills help children move with greater control and adapt to different physical challenges.
Although these categories can be considered separately, many activities combine all three.
Why Do Fundamental Movement Skills Matter?
They provide a foundation for learning new sports
Children who develop a broad range of movement skills have more opportunities to apply them across different activities.
For example, running, changing direction and maintaining balance are useful in football, tag games and athletics. Throwing and catching can support participation in basketball, netball and many team challenges.
Rather than learning every movement from scratch, children can begin to transfer familiar skills into new situations.
They can help build confidence in PE
Not every child feels naturally confident when taking part in sport. Some may find catching difficult, struggle to coordinate their movements or feel uncomfortable when activities become more challenging.
Providing opportunities to practise fundamental skills in a supportive environment can help children experience success, recognise their progress and become more willing to participate.
The aim is not for every child to perform perfectly. It is to help them develop at their own pace and feel comfortable giving things a go.
They support physical development
Running, jumping, balancing and controlling objects challenge different aspects of movement, coordination and body control.
A varied programme of physical activity gives children opportunities to practise these movements in different contexts, helping them become more adaptable and confident in how they move.
They encourage children to stay active
When children feel more capable of joining in with games and activities, they have more opportunities to discover forms of physical activity they enjoy.
Developing movement skills is not just about preparing children for competitive sport. It can also help them take part in playground games, recreational activities and active play.
Building positive experiences of movement during childhood can contribute to a more confident and enjoyable relationship with physical activity.
How Can Schools Help Children Develop These Skills?
Fundamental movement skills develop through opportunities to practise, explore and refine movements over time. Schools can support this through varied, engaging PE lessons and activities that allow children to learn through experience.
Here are five practical ways to support development.
1. Include a variety of movements
Activities should give children opportunities to run, jump, hop, balance, throw, catch and change direction. A varied approach helps avoid focusing too heavily on one type of movement.
2. Use games to make practice enjoyable
Movement skills can be developed through relays, obstacle courses, target games and team challenges. When activities are enjoyable and purposeful, children have opportunities to practise without every task feeling like a formal skills drill.
3. Break down more challenging movements
Some children benefit from practising individual parts of a skill before combining them. For example, children learning to catch might begin with a larger, softer ball and a short throwing distance before progressing to smaller balls or more challenging activities.
4. Adapt activities to suit different abilities
Children develop at different rates and arrive at school with different experiences of physical activity. Adjusting equipment, distances, rules and levels of challenge can help more children participate meaningfully.
5. Give children regular opportunities to practise
Movement skills are not mastered in a single lesson. Revisiting familiar movements through different games and activities allows children to build on previous experiences and develop greater control over time.
Why the Basics Should Never Be Overlooked
It can be tempting to focus on the skills associated with individual sports, particularly as children get older. However, fundamental movement skills remain important throughout the primary school years.
A child who can run, jump, balance, throw and catch with increasing control has a wider foundation from which to explore new activities. Just as importantly, children need opportunities to develop these skills without feeling that they must already be good at sport to take part.
For schools, this reinforces the value of PE programmes that prioritise progression, variety, inclusion and enjoyment alongside the development of specific sporting techniques.
The goal is not simply to prepare children to play a particular game. It is to help them become more confident, capable movers who can participate in a wide range of physical activities.
Because sometimes, the most important part of learning a sport happens before the game even begins.