Maureen Weiss, PhD, professor in the School of Kinesiology, gave a keynote presentation last month in Verona, Italy, at the Conference on Healthy & Active Children: Lifespan Motor Development Science & Applications.

The conference was co-sponsored by the International Motor Development Research Consortium and the International Congress on Children’s Physical Activity and Sport, whose aim is to provide a forum for discussion open to scientists and educators around children’s growth, motor development, physical activity, and sport. Both organizations also hold a common theme for promoting practical applications of research for children’s health and development.

The title of Weiss’s talk was, “Motor Skill Development and Physical Activity: A Social Psychological Perspective.” Her presentation explored children’s physical activity by integrating developmental theory and research on youth motivation to inform best practices for sustaining physical activity and enhancing health outcomes. To optimize motivation for maintaining physical activity and achieving physical, social, and psychological benefits afforded from participation, Weiss contended that children should be encouraged to participate in activities they feel competent doing, have chosen to do, find enjoyable, and in which they have positive social support. Sources of social influence—teachers, coaches, parents, and peers—play a crucial role in making sure that children learn fundamental motor and sport skills and achieve feelings of competence, autonomy, belongingness, and joy to be motivated for a lifetime of physical activity.