Move More, Melt Down Less: What the Latest Research Says About Toddler Activity

26 August 2026

By Danie O'Connor, CEO/Franchisor, Ready Steady Go Kids

If your toddler has ever dissolved into tears because their banana was broken in half, their sock felt “too socky” or you dared to suggest using the toilet, you are not alone.

The early years can be wonderful, hilarious and exhausting. Between being asked the same question seventeen times, the five-minute trip that somehow takes 45 minutes because every leaf and puddle must be inspected, and the only acceptable drink bottle being the blue dinosaur cup, helping little ones manage big feelings can feel like a full-time job.

As the Franchisor of Ready Steady Go Kids, I have long believed movement plays a powerful role in children’s wellbeing, not just their physical development. New research from Deakin University suggests that movement may play an important role in supporting children’s emotional wellbeing : and that active play is about much more than helping children burn off energy.

As I often say at Ready Steady Go Kids:

“We have always believed movement is about so much more than sport. It’s about how our kids feel about themselves. This research confirms what we see in our classes every single day - kids who move, play and feel supported are calmer, more confident and more ready to take on the world.”

What did the Deakin research find?

A new study led by Dr Matthew Bourke from Deakin’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition examined the relationship between movement behaviours and irritability in young children.

Published in Developmental Psychology in August 2026, the study included 1,266 children from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Of the children involved, 52 per cent were boys. Parents completed 24-hour time-use diaries when their children were aged two and four, recording sleep, physical activity, screen time, other sedentary behaviours and irritable behaviours.

The findings were encouraging:

Children who spent more time being physically active and less time using screens were less likely to become upset or have meltdowns.
On days when children were more active than usual, irritability was less common.
Replacing screen time and other sedentary time with physical activity was associated with less irritability.
Not all quiet time was equal. Cognitively active activities, such as being read to, listening to music, colouring and drawing, appeared to be better for emotional wellbeing than simply looking at a screen.

This does not mean a game of chasey will magically prevent every toddler tantrum. Tiredness, hunger, frustration and the colour of a cup can still create spectacular emotional weather. However, the research adds to growing evidence that daily movement can support children’s emotional development as well as their physical development.

At Ready Steady Go Kids, we see this play out every day. From the wobbly toddler learning to wait their turn to the preschooler proudly having another go after missing a catch, movement gives children chances to build more than just physical skills.

You can read more through Deakin University’s research information.

Why movement matters for emotional development

Toddlers and preschoolers are still developing the skills they need to recognise feelings, cope with frustration, wait their turn and recover when things do not go their way. These abilities are often called self-regulation, and they develop gradually through everyday experiences.

Active play gives children opportunities to practise these skills while their bodies are moving. They may need to:

Wait for a turn
Follow a simple instruction
Try again after missing a ball
Stop and start their bodies
Move around other children safely
Cope with a new or challenging activity
Celebrate someone else’s success

These small moments help children build confidence, coordination and emotional control over time.

Dr Bourke said: “Promoting healthy movement and cognitively active behaviours in the early years could alter children’s mental health trajectories and improve functional lifelong outcomes, helping to ease the increasing burden of poor mental health in young Australians.”

The early years are particularly important because this is when foundational skills in emotion regulation, social functioning and executive control are developing.

Free play and structured play both matter

When I talk to families about active play, many parents picture children running around outside, making up games and exploring the world at their own pace. This kind of unstructured play is incredibly valuable.

Unstructured play is child-led. Your child might climb, crawl, dance, dig, jump in puddles or turn a cardboard box into a rocket ship. It supports imagination, decision-making and independence, with no coach standing nearby shouting, “And now, everybody catch!”

But structured developmental play is valuable too.

Structured play is intentional and age-appropriate. It is designed to give children repeated opportunities to practise fundamental movement skills such as running, jumping, balancing, throwing, catching and kicking. It also helps children learn how to participate in a group, listen to instructions and feel successful in a new environment.

At Ready Steady Go Kids, we design our sessions around fun, development and participation rather than competition. Children can explore different sports and movement patterns in a supportive environment, with activities adapted for their age and stage.

Carmen Dodds, our in-house Paediatric Occupational Therapist, explains:

“Structured movement gives children a safe opportunity to practise both physical and emotional skills. As they learn to balance, jump, wait, try again and celebrate small wins, they are also building self-regulation, confidence and the ability to manage challenges. These experiences can support calmer transitions and fewer overwhelming moments over time.”

That does not mean structured classes replace free play. They work alongside it. Free play gives children space to lead; structured developmental play gives them carefully planned opportunities to learn skills they may not discover independently.

Together, they help build physical literacy : the confidence, motivation and ability to move in a wide variety of ways.

Small steps towards more movement

I know most parents are not looking to transform their home into an Olympic training facility, and you don't need to. When you have probably already watched the same jump or dance forty times and found a pocket full of treasures like rocks, half-eaten biscuits and mysterious sticks, small bursts of movement throughout the day really can make a difference. Try:

Dance to one favourite song.
Walk, scoot or ride to the local park.
Play “follow the leader” around the lounge room.
Read an action book and act out the movements.
Keep balls, cushions and scarves available for supervised play.
Swap some screen time for colouring, music or a story when your child needs quiet time.
Join an age-appropriate structured movement class.

Most importantly, keep it positive. Active play should feel like an invitation, not another task on an already enormous parenting checklist.

For me, the latest Deakin research gives us another reason to keep making movement part of everyday life. Through free play, structured developmental play and supportive social experiences, toddlers and preschoolers can build the physical literacy, confidence and self-regulation skills they will carry into the years ahead.

At Ready Steady Go Kids, that is exactly what we aim to support every time a child steps into a class!

And if movement also means one fewer meltdown before morning tea, I will happily call that a win.