Physical development theory, explained simply
We love to play
At the core, is a deep respect for the spontaneous, freeflow movement play that children create for themselves.
It is theory based, rich in detail about sensory and motor development and offers a simple five-part framework to guide the development of movement-rich learning environments, indoors as well as outside.
Developmental Movement Play is our approach to supporting physical development.
Create indoor movement play environments
Movement Play Areas are designed to support many different kinds of movement, from small and quiet to lively and robust, so children can get just what they need.
We love to move
It's a place to grow a sense of body and a sense of self, to develop physical control and skill, and to develop social play and sensitive communication starting with their first language - movement.
We believe that human beings thrive when we can live as fully in our bodies as we do in our heads and in our increasingly sedentary culture this takes some thought - and some new ideas.
We focus on what it takes to develop a confident, skilled, comfortable and expressive body, from the get-go, for a lifetime, and how this supports all learning and wellbeing.
When adults think differently, children move differently
Focus on Wellbeing
We love to feel good in our bodies
The way we feel in, and about, our body hugely affects everything we do.
Physical development doesn't begin and end with motor control - building a confident and comfortable relationship with our body is every bit as important. Our curriculums need to reflect that.
Movement Play is a child's way to get to know how they feel in their body as well as what it can do. Join us to learn more about the way different kinds of movement play support different aspects of wellbeing.
We're a research, development and training organisation exploring physical development across the early years
Movement play resources
Create beautiful spaces for movement play as part of your indoor learning environment. We offer everything you need to create a focused Movement Play Area.
Physical development training
Take a fresh look at how physical development unfolds, going beneath the milestones to find out how babies and children are hardwired to play themselves into good shape from the get-go.
Early year practitioners and advisors
Take courses online, in live webinars or face to face. Sign up for one person, one setting, or build a training programme for a network or region.
We offer
We work with
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Nancy Farrow
" I don't think we could make our small, busy nursery work nearly as well if we didn't have the Movement Play Area. I would never be without one."
Head Teacher
Liz Nunn
" The training opens everybody's eyes, it certainly inspired practitioners to see things differently; and to see children's learning and behaviour differently. We're able to look at what they're doing and interpret it in a new way now."
Nursery Manager
Marie Whiting
" We've developed and transformed our approach quite significantly and it's no coincidence that it's alongside the team training we did around Developmental Movement Play."
Setting Lead
