The Science of Movement

“Movement is the doorway through which children discover themselves and the world around them.”

More Than Just Learning to Move

When parents think about physical development, they often picture the big milestones—rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking or running. These moments are exciting because they mark visible progress. But beneath every new skill lies an extraordinary process of growth happening inside your child’s brain and body.

Movement is far more than muscle activity. Every reach for a toy, every kick during diaper changes, every wobble while learning to stand, and every joyful sprint across the playground is helping to build the architecture of the developing brain. As children move, they create and strengthen neural pathways that support thinking, language, attention, emotional regulation, memory and problem-solving (Adolph & Hoch, 2019; Diamond, 2013).

In other words, children don’t simply learn to move—they also move to learn.

During the first five years of life, the brain forms neural connections at an astonishing rate. While genetics provide the blueprint, everyday experiences determine which connections become stronger and more efficient. Active play and movement are among the richest experiences for supporting healthy brain development because they combine sensory input, decision-making, balance, coordination, motivation and social interaction into one powerful learning experience (Center on the Developing Child, 2021).

Every movement matters.

Movement Begins Before Birth

Physical development starts long before a baby’s first smile or first steps.

Inside the womb, babies stretch, kick, roll and change positions. These prenatal movements help develop muscles, joints and the nervous system while preparing babies for life outside the uterus.

After birth, movement follows a predictable sequence. Babies gradually learn to control their bodies from the head downward (called cephalocaudal development) and from the centre of the body outward toward the hands and feet (called proximodistal development).

This explains why babies typically:

Gain head control before sitting.
Sit before standing.
Stand before walking.
Control their shoulders before their hands.
Develop large body movements before precise finger movements.

Understanding these developmental patterns helps parents appreciate why every stage is important. Children are building one skill upon another, like stacking blocks to create a strong tower.

The Brain Loves Movement

Every movement begins with the brain.

When a child reaches for a ball, countless messages travel between the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles in fractions of a second.

The brain must:

notice where the ball is,
decide to reach for it,
plan the movement,
activate the correct muscles,
maintain balance,
adjust if the ball moves,
and learn from the outcome.

Each successful attempt strengthens communication between brain cells. Repeated experiences make these pathways faster and more efficient—a process known as neuroplasticity, the brain’s remarkable ability to change and adapt through experience (Kolb & Gibb, 2011).

The more varied, meaningful and enjoyable movement experiences children have, the more opportunities the brain has to build and refine these networks.

This is one reason early childhood is often called a “window of opportunity.” The brain is especially responsive to experience during the first years of life, making movement-rich play particularly valuable.

Movement Builds More Than Muscles

Physical activity supports every area of development.

Cognitive Development

As children climb, crawl and navigate obstacles, they solve problems, remember routes, judge distances and plan their next actions. These experiences strengthen attention, working memory, cognitive flexibility and other executive functions that later support learning in school (Diamond, 2013).

Language Development

Children who move with caregivers naturally experience conversations about actions, positions and objects.

“Can you reach the ball?”

“Let’s crawl under the table.”

“You climbed all the way up!”

These shared experiences enrich vocabulary while connecting words to meaningful actions.

Social and Emotional Development

Movement also teaches children how to:

build confidence,
cope with challenges,
manage frustration,
celebrate success,
cooperate with others,
wait for turns,
and develop resilience.

When children successfully master a new movement, they gain a powerful sense of competence that encourages them to keep exploring.

Physical Health

Regular movement strengthens:

muscles
bones
heart and lungs
posture
balance
coordination
flexibility
endurance

It also supports healthy sleep, appetite, weight management and lifelong physical activity habits (World Health Organization, 2019).

Why Play Is the Perfect Teacher

Children are naturally designed to learn through play.

Unlike structured exercise, play is driven by curiosity, enjoyment and exploration. A toddler repeatedly climbing onto a cushion is not “just playing.” They are developing balance, core strength, motor planning, confidence and perseverance—all without thinking of it as practice.

Play provides exactly what the developing brain needs:

repetition without monotony,
challenge without pressure,
freedom to experiment,
opportunities to make mistakes,
immediate feedback,
joyful motivation.

Because children choose, adapt and repeat movements themselves, the learning is deeper and more meaningful than simply following instructions.

This is why leading pediatric and public health organizations recommend that infants, toddlers and preschoolers spend substantial time in active play every day (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2020; WHO, 2019).

Every Child Follows Their Own Path

Although development follows a general sequence, no two children develop in exactly the same way.

Some babies crawl early but walk later.

Others skip crawling and become confident walkers.

Some toddlers love climbing, while others prefer careful exploration.

These differences are often perfectly typical.

Development is influenced by many factors, including genetics, health, temperament, opportunities for movement, culture and environment. What matters most is steady progress over time rather than comparing one child with another.

Instead of asking:

“Is my child ahead?”

A more helpful question is:

“Is my child continuing to grow, learn and explore?”

Supporting your child’s unique journey creates a positive environment where confidence and competence can flourish.

Your Role Matters More Than You Think

You don’t need expensive toys, formal lessons or complicated exercise programmes to support healthy physical development.

Children benefit most from caregivers who:

provide safe spaces to explore,
encourage active play,
respond warmly to their efforts,
celebrate persistence,
allow age-appropriate challenges,
and enjoy moving together.

A simple game of peekaboo, rolling a ball across the floor, dancing in the kitchen or exploring a neighbourhood park can provide rich opportunities for development.

Your encouragement becomes part of your child’s learning environment.

Key Takeaways

Movement is one of the primary ways young children learn about themselves and their world.
Physical development begins before birth and follows a predictable sequence while allowing for individual variation.
Every movement strengthens connections between the brain, muscles and sensory systems.
Active play supports cognitive, language, social-emotional and physical development simultaneously.
Play provides the ideal environment for learning because it is enjoyable, meaningful and self-motivated.
Caregivers play an essential role by creating opportunities for safe, varied and joyful movement experiences.
Progress matters more than perfection, and every child develops at their own pace.

“Children don’t develop because we teach them to move. They develop because we give them opportunities to move, explore, practice and play.”

References

Adolph, K. E., & Hoch, J. E. (2019). Motor Development: Embodied, Embedded, Enculturated, and Enabling. Annual Review of Psychology, 70, 141–164.
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2020). The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children. Pediatrics, 145(3), e20193857.
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2021). Three Principles to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families.
Diamond, A. (2013). Executive functions. Annual Review of Psychology, 64, 135–168.
Kolb, B., & Gibb, R. (2011). Brain plasticity and behaviour in the developing brain. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 20(4), 265–276.
World Health Organization. (2019). Guidelines on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep for Children Under 5 Years of Age.