Rediscovering Play: How Movement Supports Mental & Emotional Health

Play isn’t just fun… it’s essential. Movement-based play supports a child’s physical, emotional, and mental health in powerful ways. Whether it’s running, jumping, spinning, or dancing, kids need movement to regulate their bodies, build confidence, and reduce stress.

Movement stimulates areas of the brain that support learning and emotional growth, making it just as important as academic tasks. When children move, they:

Release energy and tension

Improve focus and self-regulation

Strengthen coordination and motor planning

Build resilience and creativity

Ideas for Movement-Based Play:

Create an Indoor Obstacle Course
Use pillows, tunnels, and chairs to create a safe space for climbing, crawling, and jumping.

Try Music and Movement Games
Dance, freeze, or march along to music. These activities encourage rhythm and body awareness.

Play Outdoors (Even in Cooler Weather)
Bundle up and go for walks, bike rides, or scavenger hunts in nature.

Add Movement Breaks to Your Day
Use jumping jacks or yoga stretches between homework tasks or therapy sessions.

Use Play to Support Emotions
Movement helps children express and regulate big feelings. Offer opportunities to stomp, stretch, or swing when emotions run high.

At Family of Kidz, we support the power of play in all forms. Whether during therapy or at home, movement is a joyful and essential part of every child’s development.