Developmental Movement Play
Action Research Project

DMP Action Research Project
Since 1998 we have been engaged in a long-term action research project designed to develop understanding of the significance of early movement play in the building of sure foundations for learning, health and wellbeing – and, in particular, the value of using a DMP approach.

Consultation preceded a two-cycle process of evidence gathering. The whole process is user-led, with managers and early years practitioners from 25 settings involved in developing and testing a practice based on a framework supplied by JABADAO specialist practitioners.

Consultation process
Between 1998 and 2000 we undertook over 1,000 movement play sessions in early years settings across England, during which we talked to practitioners about how they felt about supporting movement play. The consensus was that they lacked confidence, feared child-led movement play might result in chaos and health/safety issues, and had little theoretical background to explain the role of movement in development. This resulted in a more controlling, adult-led style of support for physical activities than for other areas of the curriculum.

Development of the DMP framework
In response to the consultation we created the Developmental Movement Play approach, providing a simple theory explaining the significance of early movement play in development and highlighting the kinds of movement that children show us they are eager to engage in – spinning, climbing, tussling with a playmate, lying on the floor, rolling, leaning out of the supermarket trolley, going up-side-down on the sofa… The approach encourages practitioners to develop their own ways of working to fit with their own setting’s ethos and policies.

Action Research Cycle 1: 2002-5
‘How can JABADAO help early years practitioners to be more confident in supporting children’s natural inclinations to move, and to learn from this movement?’

In 2002 fourteen Early Years centres joined JABADAO as research partners. After joining us for a four-day DMP training they returned to their own settings and set up new opportunities for the children they work with.

From the start, the key workers gathered detailed evidence using a range of methods. Questionnaires tracked their hopes and expectations at the start and their subsequent thoughts and feelings at the mid and end point. On-going data gathering charted how much activity, of what sort, they introduced. Each research partner developed case studies of three children, carrying out detailed observations about developing movement patterns alongside information about sensory responses. Each key worker also created a detailed ‘scrapbook’ tracking aspects of the project that lay outside the predetermined evidence gathering tools.

National Conference and London Seminar
In November 2005 analysis of all this data was published in a report outlining the emerging themes from Cycle 1. Two events were held to disseminate the findings to date. Bette Lamont, Director of the Seattle Developmental Movement Centre, was a guest speaker making links back to the early development of the approach.
Professor Tina Bruce provided an overview of how movement play fits within the total early years perspective.

Action Research Cycle 2: 2007-9
Eleven more settings, from six regions, joined as Cycle 2 research partners. The revised action research question is ‘Adults often stop children from moving as much as they appear to want to. What are the benefits for children’s wellbeing and learning of introducing a Developmental Movement Play approach that supports more child-led movement activities?’ Research partners are, once again, gathering evidence on a range of questions, testing emerging themes from the first cycle and picking up areas that have become important in the intervening years – particularly connected to the new Early Years Foundation Stage guidance and the government strategy to ensure involvement in physical activity for all sectors of the population.

The research findings from the whole project will be published in the autumn of 2009, with a second national conference in November.

The research partner centres

Further research in this area
Many students, port-graduate researchers and early years practitioners are choosing to undertake their own research on aspects of movement play, or indeed, the JABADAO Developmental Movement Play approach. For detailed information on all aspects of the work, please go to the Research area of the website.

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