The benefits the children get from physical activities​

Children make sense of the world through movement long before they can put their thoughts into words. When they run across the grass, climb a fallen log, or roll down a hill laughing, they are doing far more than playing — they are building the foundations of their physical and emotional development.

Physical play gives children the freedom to test their bodies, challenge their limits, and discover what they are capable of. Every jump, stretch, and tumble strengthens their muscles and fuels their confidence. But beneath the surface, something even more remarkable is happening. Their sensory systems — the ones that help them balance, understand their bodies, and recognise their feelings — are coming to life.

As children spin, sway, and climb, the vestibular system quietly teaches them how to stay upright, how to coordinate their movements, and how to feel secure in their own bodies. It’s why swinging high or balancing on a beam feels both thrilling and grounding. These experiences help children develop the focus and self‑regulation they will later need in the classroom.

At the same time, proprioception — the sense that tells them where their body is in space — is constantly at work. When a child pushes a heavy wheelbarrow, carries a log, or crawls through a tunnel, they learn how to judge force, pressure, and movement. These “heavy work” moments help them feel calm, organised, and in control.

And then there is interoception, the quiet internal sense that helps children notice what is happening inside themselves. Through physical play, they begin to recognise the flutter of excitement, the warmth of exertion, the quickening of their heartbeat, or the feeling of needing a rest. These small discoveries help them understand their emotions, communicate their needs, and develop independence.

Together, these systems shape how children move, how they feel, and how they learn. When we give children rich opportunities for physical play, we are not just supporting their bodies — we are nurturing their confidence, resilience, and wellbeing. In these moments of joyful movement, children are building the skills they will carry with them for life.