This research from Nottingham Trent University tested the feasibility of a movement and story-telling intervention for children in Reception to determine if it had beneficial short-term effects on motor development and language skills in Reception children, and to what extent the intervention was delivered as planned.
Children’s language development critically underpins later academic success, and competence in motor skills in the early years contributes to the likelihood that children will engage with physical activities and sports as they mature. Basic motor skills are also the fundamental foundation for more specialist skills required later in the context of sport.
Therefore, just as language development is a critical precursor to written language skills and subsequent access to other academic curricular areas, basic motor skills are a necessary prerequisite for developing confidence and motivation to move, and to engage with activity and sport throughout school and beyond.
Basic movement skills (such as throwing, catching and jumping) are key factors in creating more active children, with health, social, and academic benefits. Similarly, good language skills (such as vocabulary and understanding narrative) are an essential foundation to academic achievement.
However, motor and language development of 5-year-olds in the UK is poorer than children in other European countries, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.