Child development - Understanding the Foundations of Early Movement

Movement is so much more than just physical activity – it plays an essential role in how young children explore, communicate, learn and develop. In this lively and interactive webinar, early years movement specialist Gina Bale shares how everyday movements can be transformed into imaginative adventures that inspire curiosity, encourage participation and help children build important developmental skills. Drawing on her experience in dance, movement and inclusive early years education, Gina explores how simple actions such as stretching, bending, jumping and turning form the foundations of more complex physical skills. Through creative storytelling, practical demonstrations and playful activities, she shows how practitioners can nurture children's balance, coordination, sensory awareness and emotional wellbeing while making learning enjoyable and accessible to everyone. With plenty of real-life examples and ideas to take back to your setting, this session highlights the value of following children's interests, adapting activities to individual abilities and using movement to bring stories and everyday experiences to life. What you'll learn: • Why fundamental movement skills are so important for children's early development • How imaginative storytelling can transform simple movements into meaningful learning opportunities • The role of balance, core stability and coordination in developing physical confidence • How sensory processing and movement influence children's behaviour, engagement and emotional regulation • Creative ways to make movement accessible for babies and children with SEND or complex needs • Why adult modelling, encouragement and playful interactions make such a difference • How to build movement naturally into everyday activities while encouraging independence and child-led play Whether you're looking for fresh ideas to energise your daily routines, support children who find movement challenging or create more inclusive learning experiences, this webinar is packed with inspiration and practical techniques to help every child discover the joy of movement. --------------------------------------------------- Subscribe and hit the 🔔 to join important conversations and gain access to free early years industry advice and guidance --------------------------------------------------- Stay in touch! 📌Instagram:   / theparentagroup   📌Facebook:   / theparentagroup   📌LinkedIn:   / theparentagroup   📌Twitter: https://x.com/TheParentaGroup 📌TikTok: https://x.com/TheParentaGroup 📌Website: https://www.parenta.com 📌Email: hello@parenta.com 📌Phone: 0800 002 9242 --------------------------------------------------- 🕒 Timestamps 0:00 - Introduction to Child Development and Early Movement 3:14 - The Importance of Fundamental Movement Skills 8:26 - The Four Key Movements: Stretch, Bend, Jump and Turn 12:11 - Making Movement Fun Through Storytelling and Play 17:53 - Developing Core Strength, Balance and Coordination 24:48 - Sensory Processing and Body Awareness 28:39 - Supporting Inclusive Movement for All Children 32:45 - Movement, Emotional Regulation and Wellbeing 35:46 - Practical Movement Activities: The Amazon Adventure 40:41 - The Importance of Adult Engagement and Interaction 43:03 - Creativity, Imagination and Calming Activities 46:33 - Q&A: Supporting Babies and Early Physical Development 51:05 - Q&A: Encouraging Independent Play and Inclusion 54:53 - Q&A: Recommended Stories for Movement and Learning --------------------------------------------------- Our monthly Parenta webinars are FREE to attend for all childcare professionals AND you receive a professional CPD certificate if you attend. Register for our next free webinar here – https://www.parenta.com/webinars --------------------------------------------------- About Parenta Parenta is an early years solutions provider that started back in 1999. Over the last 25+ years, we’ve developed comprehensive solutions to dynamic problems commonly experienced in the early years sector. Some of these solutions are: Government-funded childcare training provider https://www.parenta.com/our-childcare... Free recruitment services https://www.parenta.com/recruitment Nursery management software https://www.parenta.com/all-in-one-so... Childcare websites https://www.parenta.com/website-design Marketing solutions for childcare businesses https://www.paremta.com/marketing-sol... -------------------------------------------------- Free Resources Gina Bale's Presentation: https://www.parenta.com/wp-content/up...