Fundamental movement patterns are basic movements that allow the body to coordinate and perform daily activities.
Examples of Fundamental Movements
Walking
Picking things up
Carrying objects
Bending and reaching
Squatting
Running
Shuffling
Moving sideways
Navigating around obstacles (e.g., people on a sidewalk)
Components of Fundamental Movement Patterns
Visual Component
Involves hand-eye coordination and awareness of body position in space (kinesthetic sense).
Ability to direct movement based on visual cues.
Coordination Across Body
Involves lower and upper body communication.
Example: Walking vs. Marching
In walking, arms are not actively involved.
In marching, arms and legs work together, promoting coordination. (e.g., the military does the marching as an exercise is because it helps organize a communication between the lower and upper body so that is actually a coordinated movement.)
Importance of Fundamental Movement Patterns
These patterns are essential for developing basic motor skills before progressing to more complex movements.
Walking is considered an advanced movement as it requires significant coordination.
Basic movements include:
Flexion and extension (bending and straightening the knee)
Side-to-side motion
Forward and backward motion (e.g., stepping
Vertical motion (e.g., jumping, climbing stairs), we have control and direction in all planes of movements front, back, side to side, up and down)
Implications of Movement Patterns
Restrictions in movement, such as ankle injuries or poorly designed shoes, can impact fundamental movements like the ankle hinge.
Understanding these patterns informs the design of physical education programs.
Application in Education
The homeschool physical education program (Core One) is designed with these fundamental movements in mind.
Focus on training children in these essential patterns for better physical development.