Physical Literacy

Raising confident, healthy, and motivated children is every parent and caregiver’s goal, and daily movement is key to achieving this. However, only 9% of Canadian children ages 5 to 17 are currently meeting the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity.

Quality sport experiences provide a combination of structured and unstructured activities that help children develop physical literacy. Physical literacy is the ability to move with competence in a variety of fundamental movement skills and is critical for developing the desire and confidence to stay physically active and participate in sport.

viaSport partners with health, education, sport and recreation to ensure that the people working with children and youth have the knowledge, skills and opportunity to provide physical literacy development in a variety of settings. Grant funding through the BC Sport Participation Program and to viaSport’s Regional Alliance partners enables leaders to deliver physical literacy mentorship and programs in every community of the province.

We all have a role to play in order to increase the percentage of B.C. children that are developing fundamental movement skills and participating in daily physical activity. We can:

  • encourage kids to be active every day
  • introduce fundamental movement skills through games 
  • lead by example and participate in physical activity
  • ensure that youth are not specializing in one sport too soon
  • encourage learning and the understanding that it is okay to make mistakes
  • create an environment where participants feel respected by their peers and their leaders
     

Quality Sport