The Connection Between Movement and Cognitive Growth - post

Training for Child Care Providers

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The Connection Between Movement and Cognitive Growth

image in article The Connection Between Movement and Cognitive GrowthWhy Movement Matters for the Young Brain

When we think of #early-childhood #development, we often focus on #language, numbers, social skills—and those are vitally important. But one often-underestimated factor is movement—the active, whole-body actions #toddlers and #preschoolers engage in. Movement doesn’t just shape muscles and coordination; research shows it #plays a strong role in cognitive development: memory, attention, executive function, problem-solving and more. A recent review found that physical-activity interventions in preschoolers significantly improved cognitive functions like attention and inhibition. 

As a child-care provider, you have daily opportunities to integrate movement in meaningful ways—not just for “getting the wiggles out” but to actively support children’s thinking and brain #growth.

How Movement and Cognition Link Together

Movement and cognition are connected in multiple ways. Here are several important pathways:

  • Increased blood flow and oxygenation to the brain during movement supports neural activity and neuroplasticity. 

  • Gross motor, fine motor and coordination skills each require brain systems that also support cognitive functions: planning, sequencing, spatial #awareness. 

  • Executive functions (working memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control) benefit when children move in coordinated, intentional ways, especially when movement is linked with thinking or problem-solving. 

  • Active #engagement and exploration: Movement invites children to explore environments, manipulate objects, try new postures, and thereby engage thinking, memory, and vocabulary.

  • Reduced sedentary time: A largely sedentary day limits opportunities for physical engagement and thus may reduce opportunities for cognition-supporting movement. 

So movement isn’t “just play”—it is part of the scaffolding for children’s thinking, learning, attention and readiness to engage.

What Research Tells Us

Here are some key findings worth noting:

  • A systematic review of RCTs in young children found that movement interventions with a cognitive component significantly improved domains like executive function and attention. 

  • Another meta-analysis of #early-childhood-education settings found interventions for physical activity improved motor skills and had meaningful associations with cognitive functioning. 

  • Further work emphasizes that movement incorporated into daily routines—not just formal “exercise”—can enhance children’s ability to refocus, reduce fussiness, and be ready for learning. (For example: “banked” brain breaks, cross-lateral movements) 

These findings underline that adding movement thoughtfully throughout the day supports cognitive growth—not just #gross-motor-development alone.

Practical Strategies for Child Care Settings

As a child-care provider, you can integrate movement in ways that are easy, meaningful, and linked to cognitive growth. Here are strategies you can use:

Set the environment:

  • Provide clear space for movement (indoor or #outdoor) where children can climb, jump, crawl, balance.

  • Use materials and equipment that invite coordinated movement: large balls, balance beams, stepping-stones, hoops, push/pull toys.

  • Arrange routines so movement is built in—not treated as a “break” only.

Link movement with thinking:

  • Use obstacle courses that require children to plan the sequence (“crawl under the tunnel, then hop over the beam, then throw the bean-bag”).

  • Introduce movement games tied to vocabulary (“Jump like a frog when you hear the word ‘hop’”).

  • Use songs with actions (e.g., “Simon says jump, turn, skip”) that require children to listen, respond, and move intentionally.

  • Encourage cross-lateral movements (opposite arm/leg) which enhance brain-hemisphere communication and readiness to learn. 

Embed movement into everyday routines:

  • Arrival/greeting time: have children stretch, wiggle, reach for a “welcome” sign.

  • Transition times: instead of sitting and waiting, move the children to the next area via a “walking like a bear” or “crab-walk” cue.

  • Snack/clean-up time: include a movement prompt (e.g., “Let’s hop to the sink!”).

  • Learning time: between table activities, give 1-2 minute movement bursts to reset attention.

  • Story or circle time: integrate movement prompts into stories (“When you hear the bird say ‘tweet’, flap your wings!”).

Tailor movement for cognitive benefit:

  • For attention/focus: shorter bursts of movement followed by stillness can help children settle and concentrate.

  • For memory/learning: pair new words or concepts with movement (e.g., vocab + action).

  • For problem-solving: build movement challenges where children must figure out how to navigate and then reflect (“How did you get through the maze? What could you try differently?”).

  • For executive function: use games where children start/stop on cue (inhibitory control) or switch movement patterns (flexibility).

Overcoming Challenges

In busy child-care environments, adding movement thoughtfully may feel difficult. Here are some tips to make it manageable:

  • Keep it simple: you don’t need elaborate equipment. A rug, a tape line for balance, or a couple of bean bags will do.

  • Be intentional with short bursts: even 1-3 minutes of purposeful movement sprinkled throughout the day makes a difference.

  • Involve all children: Some may prefer seated activities; you can alternate movement options and gradually invite more participation.

  • Balance #safety and challenge: Ensure the space is safe and the movement opportunities are age-appropriate, but allow enough risk and challenge for engagement.

  • Model movement deliberately: You as the adult demonstrate the movement and invite children to talk about it (“I’m stretching up tall — what happened to my balance?”).

  • Observe and document: Notice how children respond—are they more attentive after the movement break? Better able to focus? Use those observations to refine your approach.

Why This Effort Is Worth It

  • By weaving movement into your program, you support children not only physically but cognitively—helping them attend, remember, plan, solve, and engage.

  • Movement influences school readiness: children who are better at attention, executive function and self-regulation arrive better prepared for learning.

  • You’re supporting whole-child development: physical, cognitive, social, emotional and motor domains intersect.

  • It fosters equity: movement-rich environments can help children who might struggle with attention or cognition gain access through active, #playful learning rather than purely seated tasks.

  • It’s fun—for children and #educators. Movement increases joy, motivation, energy and readiness to learn.

Further Professional Development & Resources

 


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