Early Moves Boosting youngsters' motor skills
The development of basic early motor skills has a significant impact on a child’s mental and physical wellbeing. Children with a developmental gap in this regard are less active, less confident and less socially integrated than their peers. In contrast, those with well-developed motor skills are also likely to experience enhanced school readiness.
In Switzerland, as many as one third of children show developmental delays in their early motor skills upon entering kindergarten.
Having identified the need to get young children active, the Foundation launched a new initiative, called Early Moves, in mid-2022. The Board has approved a total budget of CHF 1.4 million for this programme, which will run until 2025.
The overall goal is to increase physical activity in a playful manner among children aged 3-8 years in all their different environments, such as daycares, preschools, neighbourhoods and family centres. The programme will focus both on indoor and outdoor activities. It will offer knowledge transfer to and capacity building for municipalities, preschools, family centres and daycares.
Components of the programme:
Coaching of family centres: Over 3.5 years, 100 family centres will be advised and supported in the implementation of the new label «PurzelbaumFamily». Under this label, managers, volunteers and parents will be empowered to increase physical activity among children visiting the centres. Volunteers will also receive multifaceted training.
Setting up a free national hotline on the creation pop-up playgrounds for communities and institutions: Interested parties can receive advice and resources on putting large unused spaces to good use, with the aim of making the environment more movement- and play-friendly for young children. This is supplemented by instruction documents and training courses.
Creating play areas in residential areas: At a number of pilot locations in socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods, we will enhance spaces for young children with existing resources for physical activity and play by engaging youth volunteers. Eight selected neighbourhoods will receive financial and professional support to make their surroundings more attractive and play-friendly.
Providing an online coaching on early motor skills: This sustainable, peer-to-peer mentoring approach will be targeted at teachers and caregivers working in kindergartens, daycares and preschools. This platform will be a source of information and videos, as well as offering a manual providing practical examples on how to develop movement-friendly attitudes in young children.
Producing a focus publication for advocacy: Aimed at educators, parents and caregivers, this document will provide information on the importance of motor skills and on how best to promote physical activity within the target age group.
Producing inspiring short videos encompassing all the children's living environments: These videos will provide accessible content to parents and caregivers. The clips will focus on ideas and inspiration to get the children moving in ways that are easy to replicate with easily accessible items.
