From improving coordination and gross motor skills to helping kids sleep well at night (amen), physical play might already be known for its fab physiological benefits but beyond that there’s oodles of other brain boosting good stuff that is so important for the kiddos. Physical play strengthens self-esteem, boosts confidence, cognition, AND promotes mental health! In fact, physical play is proven to enhance all areas of child development. Which is why it’s a central part of our commitment to promoting health and wellbeing across The POD and Holiday Club.



Here are 4 reasons physical play is always at the heart of everything we do!

 

It Helps Promote Physical Development

We all know keeping active helps keep our bodies healthy as well as strong. For young children, adopting healthy habits early in life is proven to have not only positive lasting effects on their long-term health and wellbeing but also in their development. From building strong muscles and bones, to helping to develop important gross motor and fine motor skills, having a rich and active curriculum that champions physical play at its heart, is key.

So, whether our kids are climbing trees or overcoming challenging obstacle courses, whether they’re working on fine motor skill scissor activities or getting down with the dough disco, we make sure all physical play is FUN.  Often kids don’t even realise they are flexing their physicality, practicing their balance or working on their coordination. They’re just immersed in exciting, engaging activities that are actively helping them develop at the same time.

 

It Boosts Health and Wellbeing

Having the opportunity to move in a way that delights children, whether via music, dance or participating in a sports team, is important for their positive health and wellbeing. It teaches children that being active is not only fun and engaging but it can help them feel good too. By giving children access (and freedom) to try new ways of moving their body or to use active toys such as balls, skipping ropes, balance boards or bikes, we can reinforce positive physical outcomes and help boost the way they think and feel about themselves.

That’s why our Preschool kids kick-start their day with “Morning Moves” our gentle morning exercise session that uses a range of movements such as stretches from Cosmic Kids or fine motor skill workouts to music. Alongside lots of outdoor play, we also deliver “Culture Capital” our bigger organised activities such as football, basketball, P.E or Forest School. Having access to a wide and varied selection of physical activities and equipment means our children are given the time to experiment with new exciting and enjoyable ways to move.

 

It Cultivates Cognitive Thinking

The benefits of physical activities are not only for the body but also for the brain too. Physical play can encourage new types of cognitive thinking, problem solving and risk taking. From deciding if they can jump over that huge puddle, to mastering a new physical skill such as skipping or the hula hoop, boosting the way a child thinks about the movements their body makes, helps strengthen their problem-solving skills and development in other areas. Studies show that after playing, moving or being active children are known to have better attention when it comes to learning too!

Our holiday clubs are full of brain boosting action that combine physical activities with mental workouts. Our physical play is loaded with lots of lovely opportunities to encourage creative thinking or to encounter problem solving skills. From obstacle course challenges to team Nerf gun tournaments, from archery to our mini-Olympics, we’re always busy building in ways to encourage physical activities that boost thinking, imagination and communication.

 

It Strengthens Social and Emotional Connections

Forging friendships, building team spirit and learning to socialise as a team is all part of what makes physical play, especially sports, so beneficial. Learning to win (or lose) games, to develop grit when things are challenging or knowing how to encourage and support your teammates are all part and parcel of building social and emotional strength. When children can achieve physical goals, either individually or as a team, it massively boosts their self-esteem, confidence, and pride. Whether it’s taking turns, learning to share or knowing how to play by the rules, physical activities offer a rich environment for learning deeper social awareness.

All our holiday clubs are full to the brim with team games, designed to create friendships, build bonds and celebrate achievements. From relay races to tower building, from classic sports like football or cricket, we encourage camaraderie throughout. Confidence building and collaboration don’t have to be saved for the sports fields though. From exploring woodlands in packs, to leading a scavenger hunt team, we ensure we have oodles of outdoor adventures that encourage these brilliant bonds.



At Practically Family we put physical movement at the centre of our curriculum for good reason. We love all the mood boosting, feel-good, healthy-habit-building benefits of physical play. Whether at The POD or Holiday Club, we’re committed to creating an awesome active environment that nurtures happy, healthy kids. Find out more about our Health and Wellbeing Commitment here.