Capability Development for EC Educators

Motor Skill Learning Conference 2024

Organised by Vivo Kinetics and Motor Skill Learning Academy Switzerland in partnership with Sport Singapore, the Motor Skills Learning Conference 2024 brought together sport and education practitioners from around the world in a 2.5-day conference that explored the complexities of motor skill development for children. The conference was held from 6 to 8 September 2024, and through the various presentations and practical workshops conducted, participants gained valuable insights into coaching philosophies, class management, as well as innovative game ideas to promote and enhance motor skills learning in children of different skill levels.

Sport Singapore led several workshops at the conference where we delved into key frameworks and learning principles from our Fun Start Move Smart – Learning to Move, Moving to Learn resource guide (launched in Aug 2023), to encourage movement throughout the day for children in-school. We also took this opportunity to share with both the local and international participants, on the various programmes and initiatives that Sport Singapore is currently driving for the early childhood (EC) sector.

As part of Sport Singapore’s capability development efforts for the EC sector, we gathered EC practitioners and educators from local preschools as well as sport coaches to participate in the conference. In our endeavour to continue to grow and build the sectors’ knowledge base in motor skill development for children, Sport Singapore also invited our Fun Start Move Smart – Learning to Move, Moving to Learn workgroup members from the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC), Ministry of Education (MOE) and National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) to the conference. It was a fruitful learning and networking opportunity for everyone, providing the platform for both presenters and participants to share their expertise and experiences with one another.

Photo Credit: Vivo Kinetics Pte Ltd

Collaboration with Motor Skill Learning Academy Switzerland

Applying the learnings and knowledge from the conference to a local preschool setting, Sport Singapore collaborated with Dominique Chiquet, the founder of Motor Skill Learning Academy Switzerland, to conduct a half-day workshop with 20 educators from My First Skool (MFS).

Dominique facilitated hands-on demonstrations with MFS preschoolers and brought to life his ideas for modified outdoor play through various innovative games and activities, for the MFS educators to observe first-hand how various outdoor spaces could be used differently to unlock more play opportunities in land-scarce Singapore. The workshop also provided the opportunity and learning platform for educators to continue to think of creative ways and explore innovative approaches when conducting motor skills lessons for their preschoolers. During the workshop, educators were also introduced to Sport Singapore’s 5Es Framework to help them better design and conduct movement lessons and activities for their preschoolers.

Check out the following activity ideas to inspire you, as educators, on the various creative ways you can utilise the outdoor spaces and structures around to conduct movement activities for your preschoolers and enhance their motor skills learning:

You can also access the detailed activity plans for the above ideas here.

Motor skills lessons for your preschoolers can be fun, exciting and gamified. Find out some tips from Dominique in the video below, on how you can make motor skills learning for your preschoolers more intentional and engaging!