As a parent, it’s sometimes difficult to allow a child to follow his instincts in the process of physical development. For instance, how many times do you hear a parent telling his or child to stop jumping, running or doing something because the child could hurt themselves?

Believe it or not, holding back on these urges “to correct” allows the child to learn in ways better than mom, dad or a future gym teacher or coach could train them. I specifically refer to the technique known as “guided discovery” that the International Youth Conditioning Association recommends for young children. It’s not necessary to teach a child a skill set like a push up or how to golf before the age of nine, let’s say. Of course, this is a bit of a generality based on chronological age, and if your child is very experienced in the ways of movement and is mature enough mentally, then obviously he or she can be taught a few skills.

Children are general learners and gain the most motor development from multiple experiences.  This is one reason why doing a single sport or skill set for a long period of time could inhibit that child’s ability to develop into a well-rounded athlete or a non-athlete with great potential to function! This also has academic implications. Read on.

“Guided discovery” is a simple process of allowing a child to play physical games or encouraging them in those games to help them build those nerve and muscle connections that will surely come in handy throughout their lives. Dr. Kwame Brown and Scott Colby have written extensively about motor development for the IYCA and assert that, “…there is a very intimate connection between motor skill and cognitive skill.” They go on to say that is why Japanese school systems, who encourage more recess than the average U.S. school system, outperform our students academically.

So, whenever my kids or I see an opportunity to do something different, then I allow them to take advantage of it.  In other words, I try to build “recess” into our days as much as possible.  It will help to round off their ability to learn academically and physically.

A short while back, my next door neighbor cut down a tree.  Well, my children could not wait to have fun with it.  Take a look at a simple form of motor development as my two-year-old exercises with it. You’ll see how his body corrects itself when he jumps off the log pile.