4 Year Old Not Physically Ready For School

                A “concerning” number of today’s four year olds are not physically ready to start school, new research has revealed, with children’s mobility levels said to be at an all-time low. Early years specialists monitoring children of school age found a higher number experience problems with their balance and coordination than previously thought, ultimately affecting their ability to learn in class. Researchers said the increase was partly a result of modern children being less active in their early years compared with previous decades, with typical movements associated with play and development reduced by the introduction of electronic toys and screens. Test to assess Foundation Stage children’s physical development at the start of the first school year found almost a third to be “of concern” for lack of motor skills and reflexes. Almost 90% of children demonstrated some degree of movement difficulty for their age. The tests suggest up to 30% of children are starting school with symptoms typically associated with dyslexia, dyspraxia, and ADHD – conditions which can be improved with the correct levels of physical activity.