Why play is one of the best ways to get children moving
Play is a vital part of childhood.
Most importantly, it’s fun. Through play, children can explore the world around them, develop communication skills, build confidence and connect with others.
It’s also one of the best ways to encourage movement, and the best part? Children are focused on the joy of playing, not the exercise. The movement happens naturally, helping them stay active while having fun.
Next week is UK Coaching Week, and this year’s theme is Purposeful Play.
To celebrate, Ella, who runs active play opportunities at Sense Hub Loughborough, shares her top tips on making play enjoyable, meaningful and inclusive.
Innovating acrobatics
I have been dancing for almost 25 years. As a teenager, I decided to pursue dance as a career, and I went on to teach dance classes part-time whilst working in healthcare and support roles.
It felt important to me that everyone should have opportunities to enjoy dance, and there was no provision in my local area.
I started offering fully inclusive classes to the disabled community in 2023, and the demand for accessible activities was overwhelming. I loved that I could make a difference with my classes.
I was confident that acrobatics could be similarly tailored to meet complex needs.
I worked alongside another coach, Kirstie, where we offered workshops to my regular students and found new and innovative ways to instruct acrobatics and playful movement.
Working with Sense
I have worked at Sense Hub Loughborough before, providing Sensory Movement and Dance activities at their Hub, so I was delighted to hear that their families would be interested in acrobatics sessions.
I worked with Sarah from Sense’s Active team to develop the new sessions, and together we launched our Accessible Sensory Acrobatics in January 2026.
The popularity of these sessions was huge, and wonderful that anyone could access them.
My Tuesdays are now filled with so much fun, seeing children enjoying, learning new skills and growing in confidence is what makes me happy!
Breaking down barriers
Small adjustments to our sessions truly make a world of difference in creating an inclusive environment.
Small adjustments could be: smaller group sizes, shorter activities (always with adaptations), a set structure and timetable, non-verbal communication using visuals and signing, and encouraging children to make their own decisions.
Children are welcome and encouraged to try the activities, but they are never pressured. We respect their judgment when trying new things.
Incorporating purposeful play
Tumbling, rolling, and jumping are already great fun. Children have been known to jump on beds and handstand against sofas for years; we put those skills into practice in the studio.
We use a circuit-style setup, meaning children have different equipment and stations to explore and change every 10 minutes, so there is always something new and exciting.
They are guided to perform certain skills, but I love it when they use their imagination and develop their own ideas. We end each session with parachute play and bubbles which is always the favourite part!
My top tips
The best play opportunities are enjoyable, meaningful and inclusive. Here are my top tips for getting it right.
- Always make sure there are options for everyone; a mix of structured and unstructured activities is ideal.
- Promoting choice is key, and a mix allows for low to high stimulation fun.
- Activities can be tailored to children’s interests – perhaps adapting a favourite song or movie to encourage free play.
- Let them take the lead and go with the flow!
My favourite moment
The highlight has to be when the children are lying under the parachute at the end of the session, happily exhausted from movement and acrobatics.
I am so proud of what we have achieved with Sense.
I look forward to many more cartwheels in the future!
If you’re interested in making your activities more inclusive, Sense Active have a range of training, resources and guidance available to support you.