Modifying Indoor Facilities Appropriate to Children

Introduction
Physical literacy development during childhood is critical not only to favor sport performance outcomes but also to develop long term physical activity. It’s very important for children to move in a thinking way. Diversified activities are important to develop a large panel of fundamental motor skills and to stimulate perception. It is important for children to move, but it has to be done in a thinking way.

Focus on inquiry
With young children it is important to maximize active time, to develop fundamental motor skills and perception, to take into account inter-individual differences, to favor enjoyment, self-confidence and to guarantee optimal security. Most of these pedagogical challenges can be reached by appropriate instruction and by an adapted environment.

Contribution
There is clear evidence that modifying exercise facilities influence children’s behaviour with consequences for motivation, activity level and motor development. For 25 years a reflexive approach has been used at CEReKi (Liège, Belgium) in order to determine how indoor facilities can be modified with the aim to meet children needs and to favor motor development. Attractive circuits have been developed to stimulate specific motor skills (gymnastic, athletic or ball circuits). They were created to afford action possibilities and challenges for children to explore their own abilities for exercise. According to the children’s age and level of ability different pedagogical conditions can be provided: spontaneous play, guided discovery or structured games. Circuits have to be organised in such a way that children can do most exercises on their own. The arrangement of equipment offers multiple possibilities for movement, favouring active discovery for all children. The autonomy of children allows the teacher to move throughout the circuit and assist children by scaffolding their learning.

Conclusion
Our experience confirms that modifying indoor facilities is relevant for 3 to 8 years old children activities.