The Power of Parental Engagement in Children’s Physical Activity: Why It Matters and How PE Pro & Skillabus Are Driving Change
In recent years, the conversation around children’s physical activity has shifted. No longer is movement seen purely as exercise, it’s now widely recognised as a cornerstone of healthy child development, cognitive growth, emotional wellbeing, and lifelong healthy habits. Yet one critical factor consistently emerges in the research as a defining influence on a child’s relationship with physical activity: parental engagement.
At PE Pro, we’re committed to nurturing confident, active children with the skills they need to enjoy movement for life. Through our new partnership with Skillabus, we are extending opportunities for physical activity beyond the school day, strengthening the bridge between school, home, and community. By offering structured extracurricular activities that build physical literacy and invite parents into the journey, we’re addressing a vital piece of the puzzle.
So why is parental engagement so important, and how does it transform physical activity outcomes for children?
Why Parental Engagement Matters
1. Parents Are Children’s First and Most Lasting Role Models
Research consistently shows that children mimic the behaviours they see. When parents value physical activity whether through walking, active play, or family movement time, children are far more likely to adopt these behaviours. A parent’s attitude towards movement can influence a child’s motivation, confidence, and enjoyment.
2. Engagement Boosts Children’s Confidence and Competence
Children thrive when their efforts are seen and celebrated. When parents take an active interest in their child’s movement journey, it strengthens the child’s sense of competence, one of the core elements of physical literacy. Confident movers are more likely to stay active, try new activities, and persist when skills feel challenging.
3. Increased Participation Outside of School Hours
Schools lay the foundation, but the time children spend outside the classroom often determines their overall activity levels. Research indicates that children who are encouraged and supported by parents are significantly more likely to participate in extracurricular sport, outdoor play, and active family routines.
4. Enhanced Emotional Wellbeing and Family Bonds
Physical activity is not just about motor skills, it’s also linked to improved mood, reduced stress, and stronger family connections. Shared movement experiences help build positive associations with being active and support children’s emotional resilience.
5. Creating Long-Term Healthy Habits
Engagement from parents in early childhood and primary age years is strongly associated with active lifestyles in adolescence and adulthood. In essence, parental support doesn’t just influence activity now, it helps shape a healthy trajectory that can last a lifetime.
How PE Pro and Skillabus Are Strengthening the Home–School Partnership
Our collaboration with Skillabus is built around the understanding that physical literacy is most effective when learning continues beyond the school day. Together, we are creating accessible, enjoyable, and meaningful opportunities for children to stay active, while simultaneously increasing parental involvement.
Activity Beyond the School Day
With Skillabus, children can access high-quality, engaging physical activities outside of school hours. This continuity ensures movement becomes a consistent part of their daily routine, rather than something limited to PE lessons.
Increasing Enjoyment Through Movement
Every activity is designed to develop foundational physical literacy, balance, coordination, agility, and confidence, while keeping fun at the centre. When children enjoy moving, they want to move more.
Strengthening Parent Engagement
Skillabus provides parents with clear insights into the activities their children are doing, along with ideas for how they can support learning at home. This encourages shared experiences, positive conversations, and family involvement in physical activity.
Building a Culture of Active Families
By bringing parents into the process, we’re not only supporting individual children, we’re helping to create communities where active, healthy lifestyles are normalised and celebrated.
Looking Ahead
At PE Pro, we have always believed that supporting children’s physical development requires a united effort. Schools play a vital role, but the influence of parents is unmatched. Our partnership with Skillabus marks an exciting step forward in empowering families, strengthening physical literacy, and inspiring a generation that enjoys movement both inside and outside of school.
Together, we are building stronger home–school connections, enriching children’s activity levels, and helping parents feel confident and involved in their child’s journey.