This work describes children's physical and movement development and analyzes progression in motor skills from elementary to mature stages, from infancy through to the end of the primary school years. Language development stemming from motor development and the contribution of language as a tool in the achievment of movement competence is discussed, as is the contribution of movement to children's play and creative activity. The author addresses children's entitlement to become physically educated, both through the raising of standards in the Physical Education curriculum and through the heightening of expectations in children's knowledge, understanding, participation and performance in physical activity. (view table of contents)