Background: Developing physical literacy in children with developmental disabilities (DDs) is essential to fostering their participation in physical activity. According to the Canadian Framework, physical literacy encompasses multiple interrelated components (behavioral, physical, affective, and cognitive). Such engagement provides numerous benefits, including reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as improved functional and cognitive health. However, children with DD appear to be less active than those without such conditions. Since individuals who are active during childhood and adolescence are more likely to remain active during adulthood, it becomes crucial to better understand how to support the physical literacy development of children with DD, hence enhancing their participation in physical activity. In addition, children with DD remain underrepresented in the literature, particularly with regard to their opportunities to develop their physical literacy and their varied needs, such as limited physical activity options. Objective: The aim of this scoping review was to identify and analyze the existing literature on the development of physical literacy and physical activity participation in young children (0–6 years) with DD. Methods: Four databases were searched (PsycInfo: n = 722; MEDLINE: n = 997; ERIC: n = 514; CINAHL: n = 771), and 25 articles were retained. Characteristics of these studies were analyzed quantitatively, while their scope was analyzed according to physical literacy components. Results: Most studies (80%) used a quantitative method, and nearly half (44%) concerned young children with autism spectrum disorder. A little more than half of the studies (52%) focused on early intervention programs. In regard to the scope of the studies, none addressed the cognitive component of physical literacy, indicating a lack in the current literature, and more than half provided information on how to support the affective component. Moreover, information regarding parents’ involvement in physical activity of children with DD emerged from six studies analyzed. Conclusions: The results yield interesting insights on how to support the physical literacy development of children with DD and the factors likely to influence their physical activity participation. Early intervention programs promoting physical literacy could be promising avenues to support lifelong physical activity habits for these children.
Girard et al. (Wed,) studied this question.