Movement Matters in Hertfordshire: Strengthening Early Childhood Physical Activity Since 2023 Since 2023, Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership, in collaboration with Hertfordshire County Council, has been working alongside leading early years physical development specialist Helen Battelley to strengthen physical activity provision for young children across the county through the Herts Mini Movers initiative. This work was developed [...]

Where Are Your Feet Planted? Recalibrating Our Pedagogy Through an ECEC Lens This blog has been brewing for some time — lingering in the background as life, deadlines, and the ever-growing to-do list marched on. But recent experiences have brought its urgency to the surface. Over the past few weeks, I’ve found myself in [...]

Movement, Passion, and Global Impact: Reflections from the World Teacher Games 2025 Toulon, France – May 2025 The inaugural World Teacher Games (WTG) concluded two weeks ago in the sunlit coastal city of Toulon, France, bringing together over 400 Physical Education (PE) teachers from 25 countries in a powerful celebration of global [...]

Are Chairs or Stools Better for Movement? Have you ever considered how stools can encourage movement and improve physical development compared to traditional chairs in early childhood settings? Our guest blog by Community Playthings has looked at just that. Traditional chairs, while often considered a comfortable choice for young children, can actually [...]

Sensory Seekers – Exploring Babies and Infants Sensory Experiences Engaging a newborn in various sensory experiences plays a significant role in promoting neuroplasticity and supporting both motor and cognitive development. Movement in Babies and Infants Movement starts early, with even the smallest actions—like kicking, grasping, and rolling—playing a vital role in a baby’s development [...]

Haptics and Early Childhood Development: The Role of Touch in Communication and Language In early childhood development, the role of touch, or haptics, is profoundly significant, shaping not only physical and emotional growth but also playing a pivotal role in communication and language development.  Touch is one of the first senses to develop in [...]

The Importance of Physical Development in Early Childhood: Laying the Foundation for a Lifetime of Learning Early childhood is a time of rapid growth and development, with the first five years of life being particularly critical. During this period, children experience profound changes not only in their cognitive and emotional capabilities but also in [...]

Why Move! Let's get physical! In light of the World Health Organisations (WHO) report on Children’s Physical Activity it is clear we still need to ‘do more’ to promote physical activity among young children.  In the UK, 91% of children under the age of 4 are still not reaching the recommended levels of [...]