Dr. Johann Issartel
Have you ever noticed how some children love to run around the playground, while others hang back on the sidelines? Researchers are increasingly finding that a child’s confidence in how they move—known as physical self-efficacy—may be one of the key reasons behind this difference.
Our recent study, published in Human Movement Science, explored how a child’s actual movement skills (like running, jumping, throwing) and how capable they believe they are (perceived movement skill competence) both influence their overall physical activity levels.
What Did the Study Look At?
A total of 860 children (average age: 11) were assessed on:
Actual Movement Skills – Could they perform fundamental movements like hopping, skipping, and catching effectively?
Perceived Movement Skill Competence – How good did they think they were at these skills?
Physical Self-Efficacy – Did they believe they could be active and succeed in physical challenges?
Physical Activity Levels – How often and how vigorously were they actually moving in sports, games, or free play?
The key question: Does a child’s confidence act as a bridge between movement competence and how active they are?
The Big Finding: Confidence Counts
Our research confirmed that physical self-efficacy is the key link between movement skills and physical activity.
🔹 Children who believed in their movement skills were more active.🔹 Feeling confident (“I can do this!”) mattered more than actual skill level.🔹 Low confidence led to avoidance of activities—creating a cycle of inactivity.
This means that even if a child has the skills, they may still avoid movement if they don’t feel confident. The good news? Confidence can be developed!
Why It Matters
Breaking the Cycle: Encouraging Play & Practice
Children who doubt their abilities avoid movement—which means they miss out on practice and improvement. Without progress, their confidence stays low. We need to break this cycle by providing ways for kids to succeed in movement—at their own pace.
Building Self-Belief Early
By celebrating small victories, offering supportive feedback, and creating engaging movement experiences, we help children build belief in their abilities, making them more likely to stay active.
Long-Term Health Benefits
Confident, active kids grow into healthier, happier adults. By focusing on skill-building and self-efficacy early, we can set children on a path toward lifelong physical activity.
Turning Research into Action
So how do we help kids feel more confident in movement? Here are some key strategies:
1. Personalized Skill Development
Children thrive when activities match their current skill level. If a game is too hard, they give up. Too easy, they get bored.
➡️ MoveAhead personalizes movement experiences, ensuring every child gets challenges that are just right—helping them experience success and build confidence.
2. Private, Pressure-Free Progress
Many children fear failing in front of others. If they feel they’ll be judged, they may choose not to participate at all.
➡️ MoveAhead allows kids to develop skills privately, without being put "on show." They can practice at home, improve at their own pace, and track their progress in a fun, stress-free way.
3. Positive Feedback & Self-Tracking
When children can see their progress, they’re more likely to believe in their abilities and keep trying.
➡️ MoveAhead’s real-time motion tracking gives kids instant feedback on their movement, helping them see improvements step by step—boosting their self-belief and motivation.
4. A Variety of Engaging Activities
Not every child wants to be a footballer or gymnast. The key is to offer a range of activities so every child can find something they enjoy.
➡️ MoveAhead’s movement games give kids multiple ways to explore movement, build skills, and develop confidence—without needing a coach, team, or structured sport.
The Bottom Line
Feeling confident in movement is just as important as having the skill itself. When kids believe in their abilities, they move more, play more, and stay active longer.
With personalized, pressure-free, and engaging experiences, we can build movement confidence, break the inactivity cycle, and set kids up for a lifetime of healthy habits.
🎯 Let’s help kids believe in their abilities—because when they do, they move more!
Reference
Peers, C., Issartel, J., Behan, S., O’Connor, N., & Belton, S. (2020). Movement competence: Association with physical self-efficacy and physical activity. Human Movement Science, 70(102582).
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