This event took place on January 15, 2026
How can movement support cognitive, emotional, and social development in children?
What approaches work best in child-centred learning environments to integrate movement meaningfully?
How can simple, low-cost movement activities transform everyday spaces into opportunities for learning?
We recently gathered for an engaging session exploring the essential role of movement in early learning.
The panel brought together professionals who shared practical strategies, insights, and inspiration for incorporating movement into children’s learning experiences. Attendees left with actionable ideas to foster confident, curious, and physically engaged learners.
The discussion highlighted approaches connecting movement with cognitive, social, and language development, and offered strategies that can be implemented both in classrooms and at home. By combining perspectives from education, physical activity, and play-based learning, the panel provided tools to create inclusive, dynamic, and joyful learning experiences.
The recording is now available for all Network members below.
Host
Preeti Patel
Director of Programmes, Montessori Global Education
As Director of Programmes at Montessori Global Education, Preeti Patel draws on her extensive experience as an educator to support and develop students and their learning experiences across a wide portfolio of Montessori training and recognised qualifications. Familiar with the demands of discipline specialism provision and the involved delivery of regulated qualifications, Preeti oversees academic and professional support staff to ensure that both trainees and their qualifications are well prepared to enhance the professional sector upon graduation.
Of particular focus for Preeti is the integration and value placed upon the integral experiences developed onsite through work practice and placements opportunities within training for student and new teachers and educators entering the sector. After fifteen years practice in a Montessori day-care nursery as a qualified Early Years Educator and Nursery Manager, mentoring and supporting staff teams and individual Early Years educators is a passion for Preeti; having held the position of lead Academic Placement Tutor for Diploma and Degree level programmes and Course Leader she recognises the skills and professionalism required for this sector.
Speakers
Helen Guntrip
Msc, BA Hons, MRSCSLT HCPC reg.
Founder, Talk & Move
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist
Helen Guntrip is the founder of Talk & Move, a holistic programme that develops children’s speech, language and emotional regulation through movement. Helen has over 20 years experience supporting educators and families as a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist. Talk & Move combines this expertise with her knowledge of teaching children yoga. Helen believes that movement is key to children’s emotional regulation which is the foundation of communicating and learning.
Marcel Straub
Founder and Director, Street Racket
- International speaker for active schools and cross curricular learning in movement
- Author of various books in sports development & sports innovations
- Former head of sports for the city of Zurich (leader of the center of competence in physical education)
- Winner of a Laureus girls-in-sports-award (gender equality)
- Winner of numerous awards for sustainable sports promotion for all (with Street Racket)
-
Selected Innovator – Spotlight on Child-Centred Learning, by HundrED in partnership with Montessori Global Education (Street Racket)
-
Recipient of Montessori Global Education STAR Endorsement (June 2025 – June 2026), Street Racket
- Member of the hundred.org global collection (with Street Racket)
- Master studies in physical education at university of Zürich
- Bachelor studies in sports management
- Former professional squash player (25 years as a member of the Swiss Squash national team)
Diane Craft
Ph.D., Professor Emerita, Physical Education Department, State University of New York at Cortland, USA
Diane Craft holds a doctorate in adapted physical education. She has co_authored four books on developmentally appropriate, inclusive physical activity for young children including Active Play! Fun Physical Activities for Young Children. In addition, Dr. Craft has given over 350 presentations, staff workshops, keynotes, and virtual trainings on early childhood physical activities to audiences across the United States as well as in China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, and Sweden. From 2015 to 2025 she consulted with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the subject matter expert on Early Childhood Physical Activity.
Website: http://montessorimovementmatters.com/
Email: diane.craft@cortland.edu
Connect with us on Social Media!
Please note: the recipient will need to be a Network member and logged in to view any socially shared content.
