MoveAhead

The MoveAhead Smart Moves pilot project was delivered as part of the Smart D8 programme to explore how digital innovation can support children’s health, learning and wellbeing in Dublin 8. Developed and delivered by MoveAhead in collaboration with Smart D8, The Digital Hub and local schools and afterschool services, the pilot responded to growing concerns around declining physical literacy among children and increasing levels of sedentary screen based activity.

Children today spend an average of six hours per day engaging with digital devices, while research consistently shows that many struggle with fundamental movement skills such as running, jumping, throwing and kicking. These skills are essential building blocks for lifelong physical activity and health. The Smart Moves pilot aimed to turn this challenge into an opportunity by using technology to actively support both physical literacy and digital literacy in a fun, engaging and age appropriate way.

The MoveAhead Smart Moves project combines movement based digital games, body tracking technology and a structured curriculum designed specifically for children aged 5 to 13. The pilot engaged almost 500 children across four primary schools and four afterschool services in Dublin 8, creating new opportunities for children to develop movement skills through play while also learning about technology, data and digital creativity. Through the use of MoveAhead’s innovative digital tools, children’s movement skills were assessed during gameplay, providing valuable insights into motor competency levels across the community. These insights were also compared with data collected in Dublin 8 in 2014, allowing the project to examine how children’s movement skills have changed over the past decade.

The findings from the Smart Moves pilot reflect wider national and international trends in children’s physical development. The results show that around one in four children struggle to run with mastery, approximately half are unable to kick a ball proficiently, and fewer than one in five can throw a ball with mastery. Additionally, motor skill development tends to plateau after the age of ten. Together, these findings highlight the importance of early, engaging, and inclusive interventions that support children’s physical development before these gaps become entrenched.

Crucially, the pilot also demonstrated the positive impact that targeted, technology enabled programmes can have in a short period of time. Following six weeks of Smart Moves curriculum delivery across five afterschool services, 75% of participating children achieved Mastery or Near Mastery levels in motor skill performance when engaging with the Smart Moves games. This shows that children have a strong capacity to develop movement skills when supported through personalised feedback, motivation and playful learning environments.

Feedback from teachers and facilitators highlighted high levels of engagement, enthusiasm and collaboration throughout the pilot.

One Dublin 8 teacher said:

“The novel technology and the interactive nature of the curriculum kept the students highly engaged, and they were excited to participate in the activities.”

While another teacher said:

“The curriculum effectively taught the children how to use digital devices and even to understand the underpinning technology – this was key – to help understand the use of technology for learning movement and learning digital concepts such as data privacy and game design.”

The curriculum encouraged teamwork and creativity, with children working together to design their own movement games and explore the relationship between physical activity and technology. This collaborative approach supported inclusive participation and helped create positive attitudes towards physical activity, learning and play.

With support from Smart D8, The Digital Hub and The Liberties Community Project, the MoveAhead Smart Moves pilot exceeded its original participation targets, reaching almost 600 children and families across Dublin 8. The programme has since expanded beyond the pilot phase, with additional schools and afterschool services adopting the curriculum and integrating it into their programmes