Movement Education

Movement education is characterized as physical education emphasizing fundamental motor skills and the discovery of variations through concepts such as body and spatial awareness. It encompasses a philosophy that is success oriented, child centered, and noncompetitive. Movement education experiences are most critical in early childhood, as they lay the foundation for all facets of movement tasks, whether they are play, work, creative expression, or any other aspect of life requiring movement. This entry provides an overview of the beginnings of movement education and its differentiation from traditional physical education, a discussion of its benefits to children, and a general explanation of its approach.