Movement Skills | Supporting Children's Development

Supporting Children to Develop Fundamental Movement Skills

Understanding Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS)

Fundamental Movement Skills are the basic motor skills that provide the foundation for more complex movements and sports-specific skills. These include locomotor skills (running, jumping, hopping), object control skills (throwing, catching, kicking), and stability skills (balancing, twisting, dodging).

FMS development is crucial for children's physical literacy, confidence in movement, and lifelong participation in physical activity. These skills don't develop automatically but require instruction, practice, and encouragement. Early childhood is the optimal time for FMS development as children's nervous systems are rapidly developing.

There are three categories for FMS

Body management skills

These focus on the body’s ability to maintain control, whether still (static balance) or in motion (dynamic balance). Examples include balancing, twisting, turning, bending, landing, and stretching. Stability skills support safe and effective participation in physical activity and are foundational for all other FMS, as they allow children to control their bodies in different positions.

Locomotor skills

These are movements that transport the body from one place to another. Examples include running, hopping, skipping, galloping, jumping, and leaping. Locomotor skills form the basis for more complex activities such as athletics, team sports, and dance. Developing these skills supports children’s balance, coordination, and confidence in moving through different environments.

Object control skills

These involve controlling objects using either the hands or feet. Examples include throwing, catching, kicking, striking, dribbling, rolling, and underarm/overarm passes. These skills are essential for games and sports that require precision and coordination, helping children build hand-eye and foot-eye coordination, as well as spatial awareness.

Play Based Experience 1

Obstacle Course Adventure

Create an obstacle course using cones, hoops, balance beams, and tunnels. Children can practice running, jumping, crawling, and balancing while navigating the course. Change the course regularly to challenge different movement skills and keep children engaged. This develops multiple FMS simultaneously in a fun, game-like environment.

Play Based Experience 2

Ball Skills Stations

Set up different stations with various sized balls for throwing, catching, kicking, and bouncing activities. Use scarves or balloons for beginners as they move more slowly, allowing children more time to track and catch. Progress to tennis balls and soccer balls as skills develop, building confidence and competence in object control skills.

Tips for supporting Fundamental Movement Skills

Encouraging your child to practise fundamental movement skills doesn’t need to be complicated – it can be part of everyday play. Give your child plenty of space to move freely, whether it’s in the backyard, at the park, or even indoors with safe activities. Join in the fun by playing games that involve running, hopping, skipping, throwing, and catching, as children are more motivated when parents or carers play alongside them. Keep activities short, playful, and varied to hold their attention, and celebrate effort over perfection so they build confidence. Remember, the goal is to make movement enjoyable – the more fun they have, the more likely they are to keep practising and improving.

Fundamental movement skills are the foundation for a lifetime of active play and healthy habits. Through fun games like running, hopping, skipping, throwing, and catching, children build strength, coordination, and confidence in their bodies. The videos below show easy, playful activities you can try at home to support your child’s development while keeping them engaged and having fun.

Fundamental Movement Skills: Logbook

The Fundamental Movement Skills: Logbook is a practical tool that helps track and support children’s physical development. It provides clear descriptions of key movement skills, fun activity ideas, and simple ways to monitor progress. The logbook also helps educators share information with families, making it easier to work together in building children’s confidence, coordination, and enjoyment of movement.

Click Here to access the Book

Nature Play In Western Australia

The Nature Play WA website fosters Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) by encouraging children and families to engage in active outdoor play across Western Australia. The site highlights opportunities for families to explore nature together, such as camping, bushwalking, and interactive games like “Texture Bingo” and “Animal Awareness.” These activities promote the three categories of FMS: locomotor skills (running, climbing, and jumping while exploring different terrains), object control skills (throwing, catching, or balancing natural objects like sticks, balls, or stones during games), and stability skills (balancing, twisting, and stretching in dynamic outdoor settings). By providing ideas and locations for play, the website empowers parents and caregivers to support children’s physical development in meaningful, real-world environments, reinforcing the idea that nature is not only fun but also a vital space for developing lifelong movement competence.

Animal Movement Cards

Animal movement cards are a fun and engaging way to support children’s development of Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) through play. Each card typically features an animal with a movement prompt, such as “hop like a frog,” “waddle like a penguin,” or “stretch like a cat.” These activities encourage children to practise the three categories of FMS:

Locomotor skills – hopping like a kangaroo, running like a cheetah, or crawling like a bear.
Object control skills – flapping arms like a bird holding feathers, or pretending to throw and catch like a monkey tossing bananas.
Stability skills – balancing like a flamingo or stretching like a giraffe.

By copying animals, children strengthen their muscles, improve balance, and build coordination in a playful, imaginative way. They also encourage creativity, role-play, and social interaction when used in groups. Educators and parents can use animal movement cards indoors or outdoors, making them a versatile tool to get kids moving and learning about different animals at the same time.

Get a copy here

Below are more ideas for children

More Info Here

Under 1 year of age

The ACT Government’s Active Play initiative highlights that movement learning begins long before preschool. While structured Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) are generally taught from around three years of age, infants benefit from early movement opportunities that build the foundations for these skills. Activities such as tummy time, reaching, rolling, crawling, and supported standing encourage the development of balance, strength, and body awareness, which are essential precursors to locomotor, object control, and stability skills (ACT Government, 2024). These early gross motor experiences help infants progress naturally towards more complex movements, such as walking, running, and throwing, supporting lifelong physical competence (Payne & Isaacs, 2020).

References

Australian Sports Commission. (2025). Don’t forget the fundamental movement skills! Ausport.gov.au. https://www.ausport.gov.au/athlete_development/top_10_tips_for_parents/smart_bullets/tip_2

Department of Education Western Australia. (2013a). Fundamental movement skills: Book 1 – Learning, teaching and assessment [PDF]. Education Resources. https://myresources.education.wa.edu.au/programs/fundamental-movement-skills (Original work published 2013)

Department of Education Western Australia. (2013b). Fundamental movement skills: Book 2 – The tools for learning, teaching and assessment [PDF; ISBN: 978‑0‑7307‑4525‑9]. Education Resources. https://myresources.education.wa.edu.au/programs/fundamental-movement-skills (Original work published 2013)

Fundamental Movement Skills. (2025). Education resources. Education Resources. https://myresources.education.wa.edu.au/programs/fundamental-movement-skills

Gallahue, D. L., Ozmun, J. C., & Goodway, J. D. (2019). Understanding motor development: Infants, children, adolescents, adults (8th ed.). McGraw‑Hill Education.

Hardy, L. L., King, L., Farrell, L., Macniven, R., & Howlett, S. (2010). Fundamental movement skills among Australian preschool children. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 13(5), 503–508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2009.05.010

Landy, J., & Burridge, K. (1999). Ready‑to‑use fundamental motor skills & movement activities for young children: Teaching, assessment & remediation (1st ed.). The Center for Applied Research in Education.