Physical Development - Much More than Sport

Physical development is often overlooked, but as Early Years Educators will tell you, there are many links between physical and cognitive development, and in many important ways one cannot happen without the other.

As with any area of Early Childhood development, if parents feel that their child is struggling to make progress in terms of Physical Development, we recommend speaking to your Paediatrician and Nursery Teacher for guidance.

The popular EYFS curriculum sets out detailed goals for all of the key areas of early child development.  We have considered the importance of Personal, Social and Emotional development and Communication and Language development.  Now here comes the active bit!  What is it that your child’s Nursery Teacher is hoping to help them achieve in terms of physical development?

The Two Key Goals for Physical Development

Children show good control and co-ordination in large and small movements. They move confidently in a range of ways, safely negotiating space. They handle equipment and tools effectively, including pencils for writing

This goal is a reminder to parents and educators alike that Physical Development is not simply about children running around and burning off that energy!

Fine motor skills and control over their movements are vital for children to learn to read, write and use a computer in their latter education, but before they can do those things come the early life skills of dressing and feeding oneself. 

Top tips for parents:

• Motivate children to be active through games such as follow the leader and by making active time a part of everyday life
• Challenge your child to extend their abilities: Pose challenging questions such as ‘Can you get all the way round the climbing frame without your knees touching it?’

How nursery can help:

• Teach children skills of how to use tools and materials effectively and safely and give them opportunities to practise them
• Provide a range of left-handed tools, especially left-handed scissors, as needed
• Support children with physical difficulties with nonslip mats, small trays for equipment and triangular or thicker writing tools

Children know the importance for good health of physical exercise, and a healthy diet, and talk about ways to keep healthy and safe. They manage their own basic hygiene and personal needs successfully, including dressing and going to the toilet independently

We love this goal and how it focuses on an understanding of health and well-being for even the very youngest children.  What better way than to embed lifelong love of healthy living than to introduce these ideas from the earliest age?

The latter part of this goal is one that fills many parents with dread – will your child really be able to manage their own hygiene and toileting before they join school?  As the school start age continues to fall (children can, in some cases, join school as young as 2 years 8 months in the UAE) this becomes an even more pressing issue.  

This is definitely an area where the independence that is fostered in nurseries is incredibly helpful.  Most parents will know that if a child thinks you will do something for them, they’re mostly going to let you! Conversely, in group care (with ratios of adult:children averaging at around 1:5),  independence is a must. 

We highly recommend that parents work in partnership with their child’s nursery when potty training and developing independent feeding and dressing. 

Top tips for parents:

• Acknowledge and encourage children’s efforts to manage their personal needs. Praise independence and self awareness
• Promote health awareness by talking with children about exercise, its effect on their bodies and the positive contribution it can make to their health
• Role model a healthy lifestyle and diet

How nursery can help:

• Plan opportunities, particularly after exercise, for children to talk about how their bodies feel
• Find ways to involve children so that they are all able to be active in ways that interest them and match their health and ability

We asked Tamara Stubbs, Centre Director for Blossom Nursery, Downtown , Babilou Downtown and Blossom Nursery, Dubai Marina for her thoughts on the importance of early intervention and help for children with extra needs in the area of physical health.  Tamara told us:

"Early intervention is crucial.  If Senior Educators and Management do not know or understand the red flags to identify, it can affect children for the rest of their lives.  The first 5 years of a child's life are the most important.  Recognizing signs of poor muscle control, joint weakness or an inability to hold onto an object can affect every other aspect or area of development.  Every area is linked.  It is like a continuous tower of blocks, if one block is taken out, the rest will fall.  Intervening early gives parents and practitioners a better understanding of how to help that child manage the world around them."

Physical health and development should be a top priority for parents.  We all know the calming effects of a long walk or a good run, and the same magic is worked on young children when they use their bodies.  Early childhood is the time to create healthy habits for life, use it well!

The Guides

Start > How to Assess a Nursery, and Your Child
Back > Personal Social and Emotional Development
Back > Communication and Language Development
Now > Physical Development