Physical Literacy: Fostering Confident, Active, and Resilient Youth
“Physical literacy is the foundation for an active lifestyle and is a life-long journey. It is the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life. ”
Introduction:
In this blog post, we will delve into the importance of physical literacy in developing confident, active, and resilient children and youth. We'll explore the concept of physical literacy, its profound impact on holistic youth development, and the remarkable benefits it brings. Join us as we learn about physical literacy and discover how it empowers youth to lead fulfilling lives.
What is Physical Literacy?
Understanding the Multidimensional Nature of Physical Literacy
Physical literacy refers to mastering fundamental movement skills combined with the knowledge, motivation, and confidence to participate in physical activities. It encompasses physical, cognitive, and emotional aspects, forming a comprehensive foundation for overall well-being. When young people develop physical literacy, they acquire the tools to engage in various physical activities competently and confidently.
Building Confidence Through Physical Literacy
Empowering Young Individuals to Believe in Their Capabilities
Physical literacy is a powerful catalyst for building self-confidence in youth. When children and adolescents engage in physical activities and master movement skills, they experience a sense of accomplishment and enhanced self-esteem. Whether mastering a difficult yoga pose, scoring a goal in soccer, or completing a challenging hike, every achievement contributes to their belief in their capabilities. By nurturing self-confidence through physical literacy, we empower young individuals to face life's obstacles with resilience and determination.
The Profound Benefits of Physical Literacy
Unlocking a World of Advantages for Individuals, Communities, and Societies
Active lifestyles enormously benefit individuals, communities, and societies. By getting 10% of Canadians with suboptimal levels of physical activity to be more active and less sedentary, the incidence of chronic conditions would be substantially reduced. According to the Conference Board of Canada (2014), this could lead to a cumulative increase of $7.5 billion in GDP between 2015 and 2040. Moreover, healthcare spending on hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer could be reduced by $2.6 billion within the same timeframe.
“There is much evidence to support physically literate girls do twice as much activity than those who are not. They are happier and more trusting of other children, and higher levels of resilience is evident in children who demonstrate competency in these aspects of physical literacy.”
According to the World Health Organization, physical activity improves:
physical fitness (cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness)
cardiometabolic health (blood pressure, dyslipidemia, glucose, and insulin resistance)
bone health
cognitive outcomes (academic performance, executive function)
mental health (reduced symptoms of depression)
reduced adiposity (WHO, 2020).
According to Sport for Life Canada, physical literacy increases:
Educational success
Cognitive skills
Mental health
Psychological wellness
Social skills
Healthy lifestyle habits
Physical health
Physical fitness (Canadian Sport for Life, 2012).
Cultivating Resilience Through Physical Literacy
Developing Strength, Adaptability, and Problem-Solving Skills
Resilience, the ability to bounce back from challenges and setbacks, is a crucial trait for young individuals. Physical literacy provides an ideal platform for cultivating resilience. When youth encounter physical challenges, they learn to persevere, adapt, and solve problems. Overcoming physical obstacles instills a sense of resilience beyond sports and physical activities, helping youth face adversity in other areas of life with determination and strength.
Promoting Inclusivity and Access to Physical Literacy
Breaking Barriers, Opening Doors for Every Youth
“Resilience was significantly correlated with numerous indicators of physical literacy, including movement capacity, confidence, and competence, environmental engagement, and overall perceptions of physical literacy.”
Physical literacy should be accessible to all youth, regardless of socioeconomic background. Unfortunately, barriers such as limited resources and opportunities often hinder access to sports and physical activities for low-income or underserved communities. To address this disparity, numerous youth development programs and initiatives are working tirelessly to provide inclusive sports programs, wrestling programs, and other physical literacy opportunities to those who need them most. By breaking down barriers and promoting inclusivity, we can ensure that every young individual has the chance to develop physical literacy and thrive.
The Role of Education in Advancing Physical Literacy
Equipping Youth with the Tools for Active and Healthy Lifestyles
Education is pivotal in advancing physical literacy among youth. Integrating physical literacy into educational curricula equips students with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to lead active and healthy lifestyles. The educational policies of Canada and Ontario emphasize the importance of physical well-being and social-emotional development as predictors of academic achievement (Faught et al., 2017). By incorporating physical literacy into schools, we create an environment that supports the holistic development of students, enhancing their academic success, cognitive skills, mental health, psychological wellness, social skills, and physical fitness.
Building Strong Foundations: The Importance of Physical Literacy in Youth Development at Beat the Streets
Empowering Children with Essential Skills for Success
At Beat the Streets, we understand how important physical literacy is for children. That's why our wrestling and combat sports programs focus on developing basic movement skills and improving qualities like agility, balance, coordination, endurance, and strength. These skills make kids better at sports and help them do well in school.
“Interventions addressing physical literacy development should focus on combined physical and psychosocial factors as well as individual characteristics. For example: Programs should not only focus on developing fundamental movement skills, but also on targeting physical competence as a whole (e.g., strength, agility, endurance). Leaders should use evidence-based, motivational strategies that are theoretically supported to promote confidence in children during active play. ”
Research has shown that being physically active and having good physical literacy can actually improve academic performance. Children regularly participating in physical activities helps their thinking abilities, concentration, and memory. As a result, they tend to do better in school than less active kids.
By promoting physical literacy, we're not just helping children become better athletes. We're also giving them the tools they need to succeed academically. In addition, by learning basic movement skills and enjoying physical activities, kids develop a healthy and active lifestyle that benefits them in many ways.
To ensure the comprehensive development of physical literacy, we have embraced the Sport for Life Long-Term Development framework as a guiding principle for our curriculum. Within this framework, we emphasize the FUNdamentals and Learn to Train stages. Starting at the FUNdamentals stage, we focus on nurturing essential movement skills and instilling a passion for physical activity. This stage serves as the cornerstone for future athletic development. As participants progress to the Learn to Train stage, we continue to build upon their physical literacy foundation, refining their skills and deepening their understanding of sports techniques and strategies. By aligning our programs with this evidence-based framework, we ensure that our youth receive comprehensive and age-appropriate instruction in physical literacy.
Physical literacy is a transformative force that empowers youth to become confident, active, and resilient individuals. By recognizing its multidimensional nature and understanding the enormous benefits it brings to individuals, communities, and societies, we can collectively prioritize and promote physical literacy initiatives. Join us at Beat the Streets as we empower young individuals through physical literacy, supporting their academic achievements and fostering a lifelong commitment to being active. To learn more about our programs and make a difference in the lives of these youth, please consider supporting our mission. Together, we can nurture physical literacy and provide young individuals with the tools to succeed academically and lead healthy, active lives.
References:
Conference Board of Canada. 2014. Moving Ahead: The Economic Impact of Reducing Physical Inactivity and Sedentary Behaviour. https://www.conferenceboard.ca/product/moving-ahead-the-economic-impact-of-reducing-physical-inactivity-and-sedentary-behaviour/
World Health Organization. 2020. Physical Activity and Young People. https://www.who.int/news- room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity]
Canadian Sport for Life. 2012. Physical Literacy in Canada: A Journey from Misunderstanding to Momentum. https://activeforlife.com/ content/uploads/2013/01/Introduction-to-Physical-Literacy.pdf
Faught, E. L., et al. 2017. Healthy lifestyle behaviours are positively and independently associated with academic achievement: An analysis of self-reported data from a nationally representative sample of Canadian early adolescents. PLOS ONE, 12(7): e0181938. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0181938
Federal, provincial and territorial governments. 2018. A Common Vision for increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary living in Canada: Let’s Get Moving. https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ phac-aspc/documents/services/publications/healthy-living/lets-get-moving/pub-eng.pdf.
Jefferies, P., Ungar, M., Aubertin, P. & Kriellaars, D. 2019. Physical Literacy and Resilience in Children and Youth. Frontiers in Public Health, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00346
Further Resources and Recommended Reading:
ParticipACTION: https://www.participaction.com/
Active for Life: https://activeforlife.com/
Ontario Physical and Health Education Association: https://www.ophea.net/
Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute: https://www.cflri.ca/
Sport for Life Canada: https://sportforlife.ca/
About Beat the Streets:
At Beat the Streets, our mission is to advance the education of low-income children and youth in the Greater Toronto Area through fun and unique sports, life skills, and employment-based development programs. Since 2015, we have served over 28,000 young individuals through our Wrestle 4 Fun, Level Up, You Grow Girl, Work It (Summer Jobs), and Volunteer programs, providing them opportunities to develop their physical, mental, and social well-being. We believe in empowering the next generation by breaking down barriers and creating pathways to success.
Join us in our mission to impact youth:
Join us in making a difference by supporting our cause and learning more about how you can contribute to the education and growth of children and youth in need. Together, we can shape a brighter future for all.
