{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,28]],"date-time":"2026-04-28T05:56:59Z","timestamp":1777355819089,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":104,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,18]],"date-time":"2026-04-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776470400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Children"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Fundamental movement skills (FMS) underpin lifelong physical activity (PA) and health, yet many children are failing to meet age-appropriate standards. Caregivers hold a critical influence over children\u2019s motor development, but little is known about what helps or hinders family participation, including messaging. This study explored the determinants of family FMS engagement in the United Kingdom (UK) during early childhood, addressing unexplored gaps in how guidance reaches families and the role of grandparents in supporting children\u2019s motor development. Methods: Twenty-three semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 caregivers and 8 educators, including 4 grandparents and 2 family hub practitioners who offered original insights. Eleven children aged 3\u20135 years completed a flexible draw-and-tell task, enabling inclusion of rarely represented 3-year-olds. Thematic analysis was deployed. Results: Families and outdoor spaces were pivotal to children\u2019s movement opportunities. However, awareness and understanding of FMS and UK PA guidance were poor, even among educators, disrupting dissemination of information to families. Greater emphasis on PA and FMS concepts within professional development, alongside clearer signposting to resources, more visible public-facing campaigns, and digital formats, could improve how families receive these messages. Tensions emerged between parents\u2019 concerns about grandparents\u2019 physical capability and grandparents\u2019 belief that they could adapt to support children\u2019s development. Unexpectedly, no children drew technology despite screen time frequently displacing active play, hinting at its normalisation and regulatory role in children\u2019s lives. Conclusions: To enhance family understanding, value, and participation in FMS, UK policy must evolve to become more visible, relatable, and responsive to diverse family needs.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/children13040563","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]],"date-time":"2026-04-20T09:37:42Z","timestamp":1776677862000},"page":"563","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["\u201cTheir Bodies Were Made to Move and Wriggle Right from the Word Go\u201d: A Qualitative Exploration of Family Engagement with Fundamental Movement Skills in Early Childhood"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-7479-0221","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Robert J.","family":"Flynn","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation Research Centre, School of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0385-0871","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andy","family":"Pringle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation Research Centre, School of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8146-8531","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Clare M. P.","family":"Roscoe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation Research Centre, School of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"314","article-title":"Developmental motor patterns: Implications for elementary school physical education","volume":"36","author":"Seefeldt","year":"1980","journal-title":"Psychol. Mot. Behav. Sport"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"717","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2020.1841405","article-title":"Global levels of fundamental motor skills in children: A systematic review","volume":"39","author":"Bolger","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Sports Sci."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"O\u2019Brien, W., Khodaverdi, Z., Bolger, L., Murphy, O., Philpott, C., and Kearney, P.E. (2023). 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