Physical literacy needs to be a top priority

British professor Margaret Whitehead said in a 2014 paper that “physical literacy can be described as the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life.” Learning to move our bodies is just as important as learning to read and write.

As infants we learn to roll, sit, crawl and eventually walk. In childhood our bodies grow and develop and our exposure to variety of physical activity movements and environments (land, air, water and ice) will vastly increase our movement vocabulary. This movement vocabulary will continue to grow and develop into physical literacy across our lifespan. Physical literacy is not a destination but instead a journey in which we are all on. Creating enthusiasm, confidence and value of physical activity for life is an ever-changing pathway that is unique to every individual.

On their website, Physical and Health Education Canada describes physical literacy as follows: “Individuals who are physically literate move with competence and confidence in a wide variety of physical activities in multiple environments that benefit the healthy development of the whole person.”

We have a physical literacy crisis in Canada.

Only two per cent of girls aged 12-17 are getting enough physical activity (Canadian Health Survey 2007-2011). This is the health of our nieces, daughters and friends; something needs to change. Discrepancies in physical literacy skills between boys and girls as young as nine years of age are being seen, solely due to the fact that boys have more physical activity opportunities.

We know if a girl doesn’t participate in a sport by age 10 there is only a 10 per cent chance she’ll be physically active at age 25. (Canadian Health Measures Survey 2007-2011). As coaches, parents, educators, friends, and community members, we have a responsibility to ensure we are providing equal opportunity for our young girls to participate in physical activity. By doing this we will allow our girls to enhance and develop their physical literacy skills which will hopefully help them lead healthy active lives.

The Females in Action Moving and Empowering (FAME) committee is currently running Girls on the Move, a program which has the sole purpose of providing a free opportunity for young girls to develop and enhance physical literacy skills through various community-led activities. Each session varies from martial arts, yoga, basketball and others to allow our girls to take part in as many different physical activity experiences as possible.

Our current session runs Tuesday evenings from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Medicine Hat Family Leisure Centre until May 1. If you want more information on having your organization lead a session, volunteer or are interested in attending please contact me at krepas@mhc.ab.ca or FAME at famemedicinehat@gmail.co m.

Kayla Repas is the physical literacy facilitator at Medicine Hat College’s Be Fit for Life Centre. She’s also a member of the FAME committee.