Early conversations revealed that many traditional approaches unintentionally created barriers to engagement. 

People described: 

• Feeling judged rather than understood. 

• Receiving generic advice that did not reflect their circumstances. 

• Feeling pressure around weight, appearance or performance. 

• Experiencing guilt for not doing enough. 

• Struggling to recognise everyday movement as valuable. 

At the same time, practitioners wanted greater confidence, better language and practical tools to support conversations about movement with children and families. 

The challenge was not simply encouraging people to move more. It was rethinking how movement is understood, discussed and supported. 

Collaborate Out Loud and Spark Life CIC used a co-design approach that brought together: 

• Parents and carers. 

• Early years practitioners. 

• Community partners. 

• People working with children and families across Bolton, Wigan and Tameside. 

Through workshops, conversations and shared learning sessions, participants explored: 

• Their experiences of movement. 

• The language they use. 

• What helps and hinders movement. 

• The emotional impact of current messaging. 

• What different conversations could look like. 

The insights from these conversations were then used to develop the Moving Conversations Kids workshops and supporting resources, helping practitioners move away from deficit-based messaging towards more strengths-based, person-centred approaches. 

Reframing Movement 

One of the biggest shifts was helping people see movement differently. 

Participants recognised that movement is not limited to sport, exercise classes or organised activities. It happens through: 

• Play. 

• Exploration. 

• Caring for others. 

• Daily routines. 

• Community life. 

This helped families acknowledge and value the movement already present in their everyday lives. 

Building More Empathetic Conversations 

The programme encouraged practitioners to move beyond assumptions and become more curious about people’s experiences. 

By exploring topics such as unconscious bias, values, beliefs, needs and wants, participants developed a deeper understanding of how circumstances shape behaviour and how assumptions can affect conversations. 

Increasing Confidence 

Practitioners reported greater confidence in discussing movement in ways that felt supportive, non-judgemental and meaningful. 

The focus shifted away from targets and compliance towards: 

• Listening. 

• Understanding. 

• Autonomy. 

• Encouragement. 

• Relationship-building. 

Creating Shared Understanding 

Parents, carers and professionals contributed equally throughout the co-design process. 

This helped create a shared understanding that combined professional knowledge with lived experience, ensuring the resources felt relevant, realistic and accessible. 

Movement Is Natural, Everyday and Child-Led 

Children move through curiosity, play and exploration. The project reinforced that movement should not always be seen as something structured or prescribed. Supporting and protecting opportunities for child-led movement is just as important as organised activity. 

Language Matters 

Words have a powerful impact on how people experience movement. Participants consistently described the word movement as feeling more inclusive and positive than terms such as exercise, fitness or sport, which could sometimes feel intimidating or linked to failure. 

Movement Is Emotional 

Movement is about far more than physical activity. People connected movement to: 

• Confidence. 

• Joy. 

• Belonging. 

• Identity. 

• Pressure. 

• Guilt. 

• Self-esteem. 

Experiences of movement were often shaped by previous experiences, social expectations and cultural norms. 

Caring Roles Shape Experiences of Movement 

Many parents and carers described being active throughout the day while still feeling they were “not active enough.” 

The dominance of traditional exercise messages often prevented people from recognising and valuing the movement already embedded within caring responsibilities and family life. 

Joy Drives Sustainability 

One of the clearest findings was that enjoyment drives long-term engagement. Pressure, comparison and externally imposed goals often reduced participation, while fun, autonomy, connection and enjoyment were much more likely to create sustainable movement habits. 

Environment Shapes Opportunity 

Movement is influenced by far more than personal choice. Participants highlighted the importance of: 

• Safe places to play. 

• Access to community facilities. 

• Inclusive environments. 

• Transport and connectivity. 

• Local opportunities for families. 

Creating opportunities for movement requires attention to the environments in which children and families live. 

Different Conversations Create Different Outcomes 

Perhaps the most important lesson was that meaningful change often begins with changing the conversation. 

The project highlighted the value of conversations that: 

• Start with curiosity rather than assumptions. 

• Value lived experience. 

• Recognise strengths. 

• Build confidence. 

• Support autonomy. 

• Celebrate everyday movement. 

Rather than telling people what they should do, Moving Conversations Kids demonstrated the importance of helping people recognise what they are already doing well and creating the conditions for movement to feel natural, enjoyable and possible. 

The project showed that movement is about much more than exercise. It is connected to confidence, relationships, wellbeing, identity and joy. When conversations reflect this reality, children and families are more likely to feel understood, supported and empowered to build positive relationships with movement throughout their lives.