HIGH FIVE® and Physical Literacy

The HIGH FIVE® program

Town programs for children and youth focus on healthy child development. As a HIGH FIVE® Accredited Organization, our programs for children 6 to 12 years of age are recognized as having the highest levels of quality and safety.

Lifelong learning begins with child’s play. The HIGH FIVE® program is a process committed to assisting children along the path of healthy development by:

  • Ensuring recreation and sport practitioners continue to develop and maintain a high level of knowledge and expertise in child development,
  • Helping parents make informed choices; and
  • Providing practitioners with the tools for enhancing and maintaining a high level of quality in their programs and services.

What does HIGH FIVE® accreditation mean to parents?

  • Child focused programs
  • Age appropriate activities
  • Trained staff
  • Safe environments
  • Positive child/leader interaction
  • Positive behaviour management

HIGH FIVE® The best way to play!™

Developing Physical Literacy – A foundation for Lifelong Physical Activity

Children must learn to move just as they must learn to read and write. Physical literacy skills help children gain the confidence and ability to lead healthy lives by successfully acquiring fundamental movement and sports skills through by participating in a variety of activities and sports. We invite you to get active with the Town of Oakville! Open the Physical Literacy pamphlet (PDF, 3 MB).

Fundamental movement skills

Agility – Being able to change the body’s position quickly and efficiently. Applies to: Gymnastics, Snowboarding, Badminton

Balance – Ability to stay upright or stay in control of body movements. Applies to: Cycling, Swimming, Cross-country skiing

Catching – Receiving a ball with the hands. Applies to: Basketball, Softball, Cricket

Coordination – Controlling all of your body parts while doing different activities. Applies to: Dance, Skating, Martial Arts

Jumping – Two-foot take off with two-foot landing. Applies to: Basketball, Volleyball, Track and Field

Kicking – Applying force to an object with the foot. Applies to: Soccer, Football, Rugby

Running – Moving quickly by using one’s feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time. Applies to: Lacrosse, Squash, Track and Field

Striking – Propelling an object using the hand or sports equipment (paddle, racquet) using a side arm action. Applies to: Table Tennis, Hockey, Volleyball

Throwing – Propelling a ball toward a given object. Applies to: Basketball, Football, Tennis

Stages of growth and development

Town of Oakville recreation programs (with a focus on preschool programs in the Spring and Summer of 2016) build on the Sport for Life Long Term Athlete Development Model (LTAD) which focuses on three stages of children’s growth and development.

Active Start (Age: 0-6) – At this stage children are introduced to unstructured active play that incorporates a variety of body movements. Children at this age begin to develop the ABC’s of movement - Agility, Balance, Coordination and Speed.

FUNdamental (Age: 6-9) – At this stage children develop fundamental movement skills, including the ABC’s of movement - Agility, Balance, Coordination and Speed. The goal is to have children participate in a variety of sports and physical activities that are well structured and focus on FUN.

Learn to Train (Age: 9-12) – At this stage children are ready to begin converting their fundamental movement skills into fundamental sport skills. The emphasis is on general sports skills that are transferable to a number of activities.