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Whether your child becomes active, confident and coordinated later in life often comes down to one thing: how they move in their early years. Movement skills like running, jumping and throwing aren\u2019t just about physical activity \u2014 they\u2019re the foundation for independence, self-esteem and even brain development. These early patterns set the stage for how easily a child takes on physical challenges as they grow.<\/p>\n
But here\u2019s where most people get it wrong: not all movement builds coordination the same way. What your child does, and how often they switch it up, matters more than simply being busy or enrolled in a sport. What\u2019s missing from most conversations is the role that variety, structure and playtime all have in shaping a child\u2019s ability to move well and stay active long-term.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re unsure whether your child needs more structured sports, more outdoor time or a different mix entirely, the latest research offers some surprising clarity. In the next section, I\u2019ll walk you through what those findings reveal, and how to use that information to make smarter choices for your child\u2019s development.<\/p>\n
Published in the Journal of Sports Science, a study tracked 627 children in Finland over three years to understand how early physical activity affected coordination and movement skills by age 11.1<\/span><\/sup> Researchers focused on two types of physical activity: organized sports<\/a> (like team sports or lessons) and unstructured outdoor play. The goal was to determine whether these different kinds of movement shaped motor coordination, balance and overall movement skills down the line.<\/p>\n \u2022 <\/span>Researchers assessed jumping, throwing, running and balance \u2014<\/strong> The children were tested using a standard physical skills assessment and a jumping test. These are widely used tools to measure basic motor functions.<\/p>\n The study looked at four categories of movement: locomotor skills (running, hopping), object control skills (like throwing or dribbling), a combined score of the two and dynamic balance, which was measured by counting how many times the child could jump side to side in 15 seconds.<\/p>\n \u2022 <\/span>Children in multiple sports improved more than children in just one \u2014<\/strong> The more sports a child participated in, the stronger their performance across all motor categories. Specifically, children who played in two or more sports had 10.1% higher jumping scores and up to 14.5% better coordination than children who didn\u2019t participate in sports at all. Participation in just one sport still helped, but not nearly as much, especially for jumping and running-based tasks.<\/p>\n \u2022 <\/span>Outdoor play helped girls more than boys \u2014<\/strong> Among girls, 30 to 60 minutes of outdoor play after school led to measurable improvements in coordination. These girls outperformed peers who spent less than 30 minutes outdoors by 8.4% to 14.5%, depending on the skill being tested.<\/p>\n Surprisingly, this improvement wasn\u2019t seen in boys, even though they typically spent more time outside than girls. Researchers suggested boys may already be hitting their activity threshold, while girls benefit from even a modest boost in outdoor play.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The children were first assessed in early childhood (ages 3 to 8), and tested again three years later when they were between 6 and 11 years old. The findings confirm that early activity shapes later coordination \u2014 not just in the short term. These results also suggest that early movement habits create a foundation that influences physical ability well into adolescence.<\/p>\n \u2022 <\/span>Movement diversity matters more than intensity \u2014<\/strong> The standout improvements in children who played multiple sports likely come from the variety of motion required in different games and activities. Playing soccer develops different muscles and skills than basketball or gymnastics.<\/p>\n This movement diversity trains the brain and body to coordinate better across a wider range of activities. As a result, these children showed consistently higher scores in both skill-based and balance-based motor tasks.<\/p>\n \u2022 <\/span>Motor competence appears to follow a predictable path \u2014<\/strong> Researchers noted that children who started out with lower movement skills in early childhood often stayed behind, while those who were ahead maintained their advantage over time. This reinforces the importance of early intervention, especially for children who aren\u2019t naturally drawn to movement or don\u2019t have access to diverse physical experiences.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A related study published in Sports (Basel) evaluated motor coordination in 180 children, roughly 8 years old, divided into three groups: those enrolled in multisport programs, those participating only in swimming and those who were inactive outside of physical education classes.2<\/span><\/sup> The goal was to determine which type of activity, or lack of it, produced the greatest improvements in coordination across four movement tests.<\/p>\n \u2022 <\/span>Multisport children had the highest scores in every category tested \u2014<\/strong> The children in the multisport group significantly outperformed both swimmers and inactive peers in total motor coordination.<\/p>\n This included superior results in hopping, jumping sideways, walking backward and side-to-side movement using wooden boards \u2014 skills that reflect balance, agility, strength and timing. On the overall motor skill score, multisport children outpaced swimmers by 13 points and inactive children<\/a> by nearly 20 points, indicating a meaningful and measurable difference.<\/p>\nThe Benefits Show Up Years Later<\/h2>\n
Multisport Training Gave Kids a Major Edge<\/h2>\n