Opportunities for enhancing motor behavior through physical education at school

Abstract

Children’s development occurs in socioecological contexts through an evolving process of reciprocal interactions between the child and multidimensional levels of the immediate environments. Inside these contexts, different opportunities for action shape motor behavior, promoting higher levels of motor competence, learning, and physical activity. Although many consider the home as one of the most critical settings for children, it is equally important to highlight the role of school, recess, physical education classes, and extracurricular activities. This chapter aims to provide a compre- hensive overview of the scientific evidence concerning factors associated with school- aged children’s motor behavior, pointing out the importance of affordances in acquiring new motor skills and enhancing motor competence. Therefore, this chapter provides a more comprehensive view of the relationship between the environment and behavior, which is paramount to improving practice among movement professionals and physical education teachers.