Contribution of gymnastic skills to the educational content of physical literacy in elementary school children and youth

Cultivation of fundamental movement skills, i.e. "physical literacy", is one of the crucial preconditions of any physical activity that brings health benefits and improves the level of physical condition. The basic physical literacy is strongly influenced by gymnastic skills which create the foundations for safe and correct performance of all subsequent physical and sport activities. In gymnastics, the expression of movement is based on conscious control of movement that leads to an optimal performance of body or body parts movements. In this article, we use the methods of content analysis and comparison of expert publications focusing on physical education and sport preparation of elementary school children to propose concrete fundamental gymnastic skills from various areas of the set of gymnastic activities. The proposal of activities includes following sets: body posture exercises as a universal starting position for movement, exercises for optimal performance of basic locomotion, performance of body and body parts movements, space orientation, keeping the static and dynamic balance, acrobatic (motor-functional) preparation, technique of exercises without hand apparatus, technique of basic manipulation skills, technique of apparatus exercises, acrobatics, music-movement education. Selected movement skills acquired through discussed activities significantly develop the competencies mentioned in the educational programs.