What is Physical Literacy?
Experts agree that physical literacy is just as important as reading, writing and arithmetic!
Physical literacy comes from developing enjoyment, understanding, and the physical skills to engage in a wide variety of fundamental movements (e.g. hopping, jumping, throwing, catching etc.). It builds the confidence, attitudes and behaviours to be physically active for life. To review Canada’s Physical Literacy Consensus Statement developed in collaboration by various sectors, please visit this website!
Regular physical activity is connected to better health, positive self-image, better school grades and improved social well-being in general. This short video from Sport Wales sums it up very nicely:
Physical Literacy Resources
Learn more about programs and opportunities that help develop physical literacy below!
At Home:
Check out some easy and fun activities you can do at home and find out what is happening locally right here on KingstonGetsActive.ca
- ActivKids! Physical Literacy at Home: Fun Ideas for Toddlers & Preschoolers–Also, information on checking out a Play Kit
- 9 ways to find out if your kids are physically literate
- 10 easy ways you can add physical literacy to your kids’ daily routine
At School or With Your Day Care Providers:
Talk to your child’s teacher, coach or caregiver about physical literacy!
- Share our physical literacy lesson plans with daycares and summer camps
- Physical education teachers make a difference in schools
- Physical literacy and the school system
With Your Sport Organization or Coach:
Visit ActiveForLife.ca for great ideas.
- Sport for Life Kingston
- Find a quality sport program
- When is my child old enough for organized sports?
More about Physical Literacy:
The Importance of Physical Literacy
HANDS UP for Health and Physical Literacy is a three part illustrated video series that will teach children and youth about the importance of physical and health literacy in a fun and engaging way.
Physical Literacy in Kingston!
Organizations across Kingston are working together to ensure that all children get the right start in sport, school and life.
Local School Teachers Get a Lesson in Physical Literacy
Our local schools are getting our kids more physically literate. On September 18, 2017, fifty educators and twenty students from schools in the Kingston region stepped out of the classroom to attend a half-day workshop to get schooled in the importance of physical literacy.
The workshop was organized by Kingston Gets Active and funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
The following video, produced by the Limestone District School Board from their daily “Learning in Limestone” video collection, shows other ways schools are building physical literacy:
Physical Literacy Workshops
Physical Literacy workshops were offered in Kingston from 2017-2020 for parents and staff who work with young children. These workshops were also offered to teaching from Kingston school board. Read about one Physical Literacy Workshop in this Whig Standard article: Physical Literacy Put in Motion.
Successful Funding to Support a More Active Community
In September 2017, Kingston Gets Active and partners were pleased to announce successful funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. This funding was used for project-funded events, programming, and training opportunities until April 2020.
Statement: We are grateful for past funding from the Ontario Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport; and the RBC Learn to Play Project, which was funded by RBC and the Public Health Agency of Canada and delivered by ParticipACTION. All of our funding goes towards projects that will support Kingston residents to become and stay physically active for life.
