Children need movement to learn—it’s how they explore, connect, and thrive. There’s incredible learning power in preschool movement activities. When I was brainstorming the name for my business, one word rose above all others: movement. It’s the heartbeat of early learning and the foundation of everything I teach.
As a former kindergarten teacher, I quickly learned how powerful movement could be in education. Entering the rigidity of elementary school, where we were being told to take the play kitchens out of our classrooms (dagger to the heart), I saw firsthand how young children absolutely learned best through movement. I was fortunate enough to get trained by a speech pathologist on how to use whole body motions to teach alphabet sounds early on in my career. I quickly saw the impact that this had on my classroom. We were thriving and having fun doing it.
Over the years, I have refined and expanded these strategies into my own approach to teaching the alphabet based on research. As these models have evolved, one thing remains the same…movement matters. The positive effects of our littles ones is undeniable. Watching children thrive when combining movement with learning made choosing the name "Moving Little Minds" a no-brainer.
Speaking of the brain, another thing that I learned over time and have prioritized is that fact that research matters. Honestly, it floored me when I discovered that for years, I had been teaching children to read the wrong way. Despite earning a teaching scholarship at a fabulous university and even a master’s degree in special education, I never learned about the science of reading in my programs. Looking back, this still blows my mind.
That realization became the driving force behind my business—using research-backed instruction to truly move children’s minds. And not just any minds, but the minds of our littlest learners at the most critical time—when their brain foundations are taking shape. Let's dive into more ways to "move" little minds!
Why Movement Is Impactful in Preschool Learning
The other day, an article landed in my inbox that stopped me in my tracks. A study out of Canada found that children in daycare settings are sedentary for 43 minutes every single hour. (See the study below). That number was shocking!
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am a firm believer in giving children a strong academic foundation. Preschoolers are capable of so many incredible things! But learning doesn’t have to mean sitting still all day. In fact, movement should be a priority in the classroom.
We all know that there are so many benefits of movement on the body overall, but let’s zone into how it benefits the learning part of our bodies. Movement is essential for young learners because it engages their bodies and minds simultaneously, creating stronger connections in the brain.
Here’s why movement is so impactful in learning:
• Activates Multiple Areas of the Brain: Movement integrates the sensory, motor, and cognitive parts of the brain, which enhances memory retention and understanding.
• Supports Multi-Sensory Learning: Engaging multiple senses (like touch, hearing, and movement) when teaching a concept helps children grasp and retain information faster and more effectively.
• Improves Focus and Attention: Physical activity increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, improving focus, alertness, and readiness to learn.
• Boosts Emotional Engagement: Movement creates a fun, interactive environment that increases children’s enthusiasm for learning.
But HOW Do We Prioritize Movement AND Learning in the Classroom?
While the benefits of movement are clear, teachers are often left with the struggle of exactly how to do this…HOW to make movement part of learning. You might be asking, “We have a curriculum we have to teach, we have goals that we want to meet academically, so how exactly are we going to ensure that we are both teaching and giving the children the proper movement that they deserve?
The key? Intentionality. Merging instruction with play takes planning, but when done well, it transforms learning into something more engaging, meaningful, and effective. Let’s dive into some of my favorite ways to get children moving and learning at the same time!
Our Favorite Ways to Use Movement in the Classroom
Movement can be incorporated into nearly every aspect of learning. Here are some fun and effective ways to get started:
Phonological and Phonemic Awareness Practice:
Jack Hartmann is a go-to resource for engaging songs that encourage movement while teaching literacy concepts. (Grab my freebie here!)
Syllable Clapping and Jumping: Have children clap, jump, or punch the air for each syllable in a word. For example, “but-ter-fly” equals three claps or jumps.
Compound Word Breakdown: Physically act out separating and combining compound words. Example: Step forward and back to break down “base-ball.”
Alphabetic Knowledge:
Musical Alphabet Games: Play music and have children dance. When the music stops, they act out a letter sound or jump to a letter mat. Musical alphabet chairs is also a hit.
Moving Little Minds Alphabet Motion Flashcards: You KNOW how much we love these. Children are up and actively using their whole bodies to learn, engaging multiple sensory inputs simultaneously. Did someone say NEW and IMPROVED?
Letter Formation Practice: Use large motor movements to “write” letters in the air, use ribbon sticks to form letters, or hop on giant letters taped on the floor.
Story and Vocabulary Building:
Acting Out Stories: Bring stories to life by having children act out characters or events, which improves comprehension and recall.
Vocabulary Word Actions: Assign motions to newly learned vocabulary words. For example, for “mope”, children move in a mopey fashion around the room.
Animal Walk Parade: Call out different animals, and children move like that animal around the circle.
Circle Time and Community Building:
Do You Like This or That? – Give two choices (ex: summer or winter). Children move to one side of the room based on their preference.
Mirror, Mirror: Pair up children to mimic each other's movements to build social skills and coordination.
Good Morning Movement Activities: Jump the letters in your name, dance to welcome song with instruments, pass yarn for a friendship web.
High-Five Game: Give each child a letter, number, or shape. Have them walk around high-fiving friends with the same one.
Outdoor Movement Activities – That Incoprorate LITERACY: Grab the free download by clicking the button below with 10 of my favorites!
Incorporating movement into learning not only makes lessons more engaging but also ensures children are actively involved, helping them build a strong foundation for future success. Let’s keep their little minds (and bodies) moving!
Which one are you going to try?
Drop a comment below and share this post with your fellow educators!
Ready to Learn the Research-Based Way to Teach the Alphabet? Learn What Research Proves with Alphabet Academy!
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Alphabet Academy is a self-guided online course. This course will walk you through everything you need to know about teaching the alphabet effectively, from research to implementation, and will provide you with all the tools you need to ensure your students’ success.
"I've been learning on my own over the last 2 years or so about the Science of Reading and trying to educate our childcare staff the best I can. I mostly have found resources aimed at kindergarten and above, so finding your material geared toward the littlest ones was very refreshing."
- Linda K., Preschool Teacher and Assistant Director
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We believe that every child deserves a bright future, and this begins with a strong foundation in early literacy skills. At Moving Little Minds, we are dedicated to providing research-based literacy activities in fun and engaging ways! By merging instruction with play, we ensure that children are reaching their full potential and embark on their educational journey well-prepared for the
future! Let's build those KEY emergent literacy skills together.
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