Joy of Moving: Kids Find Focus Through Movement

The Joy of Moving program is actively integrating physical activity into Australian classrooms, providing educators with practical tools to enhance students' emotional regulation and learning focus. Since its introduction in 2019, schools like Emerson School in Victoria have utilized short, engaging movement breaks, including dance and story-led activities, to help students manage emotions and re-engage with their studies. This initiative, a corporate responsibility program by Ferrero, aims to foster a positive association with physical activity in primary-aged children through varied and inclusive play.

This program is not centered on athletic ability but rather on teaching children that movement is a beneficial strategy for managing feelings such as worry, anger, and sadness. Sessions, typically under ten minutes, combine movement with short stories or discussions, making them accessible and enjoyable. Research from Monash University's Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, led by Prof Nicole Rinehart, has distilled cognitive behavior therapy principles into these age-appropriate activities. The program's core messages emphasize that all movement is good movement and that physical activity can contribute to feeling good, thereby shifting children's relationship with exercise to one of joy and accessibility for every child.