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Why is it important?
Building blocks for life!
Without the base of physical literacy, doors close, and the opportunity for active, healthy living narrows. Ideally, physical literacy is developed in the early years (0-12 years old), but this isn't always the case.
Just as in literacy, numeracy, and music: you learn the basics (ABC, 123, DO-RE-MI) to do more complex tasks and progress. Learning these fundamental movement skills is essential to physical literacy and progressing to more challenging tasks and sequences.
It's more than just sports!
Too often, people associate the importance of physical activity only for those hoping to be professional athletes. For some, it may lead to this, but for the vast majority of us, physical activity sets us on the track to be active for life! So, that means physical literacy is the JOURNEY and ACTIVE FOR LIFE the destination!
Physical literacy isn’t just a set of skills learned in PE class but a lifelong journey to find meaning in movement and be well prepared to live life to the fullest.
Benefits for the whole person!
Physical literacy is more than movement and benefits more than the body! The benefits of an individual's physical literacy journey can affect the whole person's health - emotional, social, intellectual, financial, individual, and physical health.
What We Do
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Mackenzie Recreation Association (MRA) is pleased to provide funding for community recreation leaders or volunteers who wish to participate in physical literacy professional development. The purpose is to build local capacity and expertise to provide quality recreation services to our communities. Through our partnerships, we have offered training in this area and are planning to offer more in the future. Some of the possible training opportunities include:
- Fundamental Movement Skills: recreation leaders, coaches, parents, teachers
- Physical Literacy Programs: Active Start, FUNdamentals, Learn to Train
- HIGH FIVE: PHCD, Strengthening Children's Mental Health, Healthy Minds for Healthy Children, etc
CONFERENCES & EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Physical literacy educational opportunities and conferences occur multiple times a year. The MRA hosts two board meetings a year (one in spring and one in the fall) and usually has a physical literacy education/training component. Additionally, the MRA offers funding to support attendance at conferences across Canada.
MRA advocates for physical literacy in our communities through information sessions across various sectors, at various regional events, and through attendance or support of regional, national, international physical literacy conferences.
Through these conferences, we hope to build up knowledge and education about physical literacy and develop methods to bring it to the communities.
SHOW US YOUR SKILLS EVENT (February)
An annual FREE virtual bingo challenge that encourages participants to:
- learn about fundamental movement skills
- try new fundamental movement skills
- experience movements in different environments
We chose "SHOW us your SKILLS" as our event name to highlight the importance of trying and developing new Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) regardless of skill level. The purpose of the challenge is to encourage you to participate, be YOUR best, set and achieve goals, and have FUN!
Other Resources
This website is meant to inform you about programs, partnerships, projects, best practices, research, leading-edge innovations, and opportunities within the physical literacy movement. Through education, research, and the impact of innovative projects, Physical Literacy for Life inspires kids and families to live healthier, more physically active lives.
Active for Life is the place where parents go to learn about activities for kids. Physical education leads to physical literacy, which is critical for child development. Physical literacy also gives active kids the best chance to someday compete in high-performance sport. Kids activities are organized here by age and gender, so parents can find fun and engaging ways of making sure their children get the recommended daily amount of physical activity. Because kids play is good for kids health.
Through its coach education, research, and advocacy programs, the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) unites partners and stakeholders in its commitment to raise the skills and stature of coaches, and ultimately to expand their reach and influence. CAC programs empower sport coaches and sport organizations in Canada with knowledge and skills, promotes ethics, fosters positive attitudes, builds competence, and increases the credibility and recognition of coaches.
The nationally recognized not for profit organization consists of sport and physical literacy experts with the long-term vision necessary to be catalysts for lasting change within the sport and physical activity ecosystem and beyond.
By bridging gaps between sectors, creating new collaborations with Canadian institutions, and mobilizing our knowledge to communities across the country, we aim to create a future in which absolutely everyone has access to quality sport and physical literacy experiences.
HIGH FIVE® is Canada's quality standard for children's programs. Before HIGH FIVE, no standard existed and there was a clear need for an innovative approach to help organizations enhance program quality and provide positive experiences for children, which would remain with them for a lifetime.
The Be Fit For Life Network is a provincial initiative comprised of 9 regional centres, located in Colleges and Universities across Alberta. The Network works together, alongside many partners to inspire, educate and support Albertans to lead healthy, physically active lifestyles. Be Fit For Life Coordinators are experts in physical activity, working across sectors in their unique communities, setting the stage for collaboration and alignment of services to support the development of physical literacy.
Ever Active Schools is a registered national charity designed to create and support healthy school communities. They engage and support schools through a Comprehensive School Health framework, which addresses health and education goals to improve the social outcomes of children and youth in Alberta.
Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) champions healthy, active kids by promoting and advancing quality physical and health education opportunities and healthy learning environments. Supporting community champions with quality programs, professional development services, and community activation initiatives, PHE Canada inspires all to live healthy, physically active lives.