The Connection Between Movement and Communication
24 January, 2025Ever wonder if your child’s social skills could use a little “stretching”? No, we’re not talking about forcing them to speak to every single person they walk past (stranger danger!!). We’re talking about how physiotherapy— the same therapy that helps kids jump, climb, walk, and sit independently—can actually play a key role in boosting social skills. The connection between movement and communication is stronger than you might think….
The Link Between Movement and Social Skills
You may be wondering, how can there be a link between movement and social skills? Well, social skills aren’t just about talking or being able to understand emotions, they are also about using your body in ways that help you connect with others (1).
A friendly wave, good posture, and even being able to keep your balance while you join a group of friends in a game of tag are all part of socialising. So why physiotherapy? Physiotherapists work on helping kids get their body to operate with their social instincts.
Body Awareness = Better Communication
Imagine you are trying to have a conversation, but you are so focused on trying not to trip over your own feet causing you to forget to make eye contact, give a proper handshake, or even smile. Not so easy to make friends, right? That’s where physiotherapy comes in. It helps kids develop body awareness, or that skill of knowing where your arms, legs, and head are (‘proprioception’, if you want to get technical), making communication look and feel effortless (2.).
Physiotherapists work with kids to improve balance, coordination, and posture, which are all essential for effective communication (1.). For instance, when a child feels confident in their body, they also are more likely to feel confident in social situations. When they can stand tall, make eye contact, and move gracefully, they have got a better shot at feeling comfortable in group settings—whether it’s at the playground, in a classroom, or even at the dinner table (3.).
Image 1: Child walking with their therapist, working on coordination skills through bike riding
Holloway, J. M., & Long, T. M. (2019). The interdependence of motor and social skill development: influence on participation. Physical therapy, 99(6), 761-770. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6702414
Mulé, D., Jeger, I., Dötsch, J., Breido, F., Ferrari, N., & Joisten, C. (2022). Correlation between Language Development and Motor Skills, Physical Activity, and Leisure Time Behaviour in Preschool- Aged Children. Children, 9(3), 431. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8947720
Zhao, M., & Chen, S. (2018). The effects of structured physical activity program on social interaction and communication for children with autism. BioMed research international, 2018(1), 1825046. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5820623