This work describes children's physical and movement development and analyzes progression in motor skills from elementary to mature stages, from infancy through to the end of the primary school years. Language development stemming from motor development and the contribution of language as a tool in the achievment of movement competence is discussed, as is the contribution of movement to children's play and creative activity. The author addresses children's entitlement to become physically educated, both through the raising of standards in the Physical Education curriculum and through the heightening of expectations in children's knowledge, understanding, participation and performance in physical activity .

Author Biography

Patricia Maude has taught Physical Education in Primary, Secondary and Middle Schools and in the Advisory Service. She currently works in Teacher Training at Homerton College, Cambridge. As senior coach of Homerton Gymnastics Club for 25 years she is eminently experienced in children's movement development and physical literacy.