Movement Play

Movement play means moving just because it’s fun. Things like chase, tag, hide and seek, and tree climbing fall into this category. Movement is a powerful way for kids to play.

Research that has been done on physical play shows that this kind of play can re-energize and reset a child’s nervous system. This means that they are more able to concentrate on challenging tasks after a movement break, like recess.

Movement can also help kids with self-regulation. Peter Gray, Ph.D., who wrote the book Free to Learn, speaks about how rough-and-tumble play can help kids learn how to manage emotions, like fear and anger, and is a healthy part of social and cognitive development. The movement activities listed below work on social skills like problem solving, communication, taking turns, working together, understanding personal space, managing frustration, and patience.

While there are a lot of movement games that can involve groups of children, these ideas for moving are ones that can be done with just two, since that is the ideal place to start for kids who are building social skills and friendships.