Physical literacy is important for reducing the risk of injury in physical activity and sport. By helping your child to develop physical literacy, you are improving your child’s physical resilience as much as their ability to enjoy lifelong physical activity.
For example, children may learn to run by playing outside with their friends, but there is no guarantee that they will learn the proper movement pattern of running. They may run inefficiently, or in a manner that otherwise increases their risk for knee or ankle injury. The same could be said for many other fundamental movements such as jumping and throwing.
Formal education in physical literacy can help the development of correct movement skills and thereby reduce the risk of injury. Talk with your child’s teacher about physical education programming at school and how you can help at home.
You can find further information about physical literacy and reducing injury risk here Physical Literacy and Injury Prevention.