2.2 The Power of Movement. The Language of the World

Movement is interwoven through early childhood and formal education settings. This chapter explores movement as a multilingual and multimodal language of expression, communication, and inclusion. Case studies are shared that illustrate the power of movement and the multiple interpretations of movement, play, sport, exercise, and physical activity which impact both health and well-being as well as international school curricula. The chapter considers the importance of helping infants to experience their world through movement by way of physical curiosity and how developing and refining key motor skills, as well as understanding those motor skills linguistically, is vital to the development of communication and language. The chapter also explores how cultural competence can be developed through physical education lessons. The authors’ experiences of supporting teacher trainees in a range of global contexts are shared to illustrate the universality of physical skills across sports, including those that hold a deep cultural significance in the contexts within which they are taught. Finally, the reader is invited to consider their language conversations in the classroom and how these reflect both their own experiences of the holistic and communicative benefits of physical activity and those of their students.