What is meant by Physical development and why is it important?
Physical development refers to children’s abilities to use and control their own bodies through their gross- and fine-motor skills that plays a big role in the health and wellness of the child.
Gross-motor skills involve the use of large muscles in the legs or arms, as well as general strength and stamina. Gross-motor skills can develop through jumping, crawling, running, and skipping....etc. Fine-motor skills involve the use of small muscles in the arms, hands, and fingers. We can help children develop their fine-motor skills when they scribble, cut paper, stick tinny items to paper and draw.
The importance of the physical development:
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Research tell us that preschool children learn best when they are actively engaged in their environments where they get the opportunities to explore the environment by moving, touching, experimenting, and manipulating different toys, objects, and materials.
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Studies indicate that physical activity in young children is linked to brain growth and development. One study that explored body and brain connections found that preschoolers’ motor-play activities activate visual brain centers (James, 2010).
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Physical well-being is also linked to mental health and cognitive development.
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Recent studies have also investigated the influence of physical activity and development on cognition. 80% of studies showed significant and positive changes in language learning, academic achievement, attention, and working memory (Zeng et al. 2017).
By encouraging the children in your care to be physically active, you help them develop enjoyment in physical activity and the skills necessary for maintaining their wellness.
What influences the physical development?
1.Brain development
Motor abilities in preschool emerge as a result of physical growth and also the result of brain growth. In other words, movement involves more than simply using arms or legs. The ability for a child to throw a ball requires muscle movement and also to the brain’s ability to organize visual and auditory messages to make decisions such as waiting if needed. The role of the teacher is to enhance children’s brain development by engaging children in meaningful interactions with their environment .
2.Heridity
Genetic inheritance plays a significant part in children’s physical growth. However, it is important to acknowledge that even though genes influence children’s development, physical growth, like other aspects of development, happens as the result of the interplay between heredity and environment.
3.Nutrition
Young children rapid brain and body growth require healthy balanced diets that provide them with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to be able to reach optimal physical growth and development.
4.Cultural differences
Children’s environments, family culture, and particular life circumstances can affect how they develop and master motor skills in different ways.
What are the physical milestones in early childhood?
Milestones provide a guide for when to expect certain skills or behaviors to emerge in young children. Preschool teachers must be knowledgeable about children’s developmental milestones to meet children’s needs in your classroom.
Keep in mind:
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Each child is unique in when they will master each skill.
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Milestones can differ slightly according cultures.
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preschoolers are on a a continues process during their growth to acquiring these skills.
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preschoolers are still establishing these abilities for the first time our role is to offer all the opportunities and support to help all children grow and learn to their potential.
What is your role in developing children's gross and fine motor skills?
Developing the fine and gross motor skill requires teachers to study the space they are in as well as the stimulation level offered to engage preschoolers. Plenty of research highlights the physical development is viewed as foundational for child development. You should provide children with plenty of opportunities to engage in physical activity whether indoors or outdoors, for at least 3 hours each day. Your program should strive to provide daily movement activity.
