If you’ve ever spent time with a group of young children, you know how challenging it can be to get everyone to sit still at the same time—sometimes it feels nearly impossible. That’s because extended stillness simply isn’t developmentally appropriate for preschoolers.
In the video below, one of my favorite early childhood experts, Rae Pica, explains why movement is so important in the early years and how allowing children to move actually increases their ability to understand and retain academic concepts.
Recognizing preschoolers’ natural need for activity is essential. When it’s time to settle down, I encourage children to choose a position that feels comfortable and supportive for them. While criss-cross applesauce may look orderly, it isn’t always comfortable—and when a child is uncomfortable, meaningful learning becomes much harder.
Throughout the day, our students are moving in many ways, both indoors and outdoors. Young children learn through their bodies before they learn through their brains. Because movement in early childhood has a lasting impact on academic learning, I intentionally incorporate it into our day so that children are actively engaged in the learning process from start to finish.