Physical Development
Involves the growth and change in a person’s body and
bodily functions.
Physical development involves both physiological and
motor development.
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Motor Skills
 Are skills which enable us to move and control
our bodies.
 They can be divided into gross (large) and fine
(small) motor skills.
 Both gross and fine motor skills require
practise and opportunity to develop muscle
strength, balance and co-ordination.
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Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills involve co-ordination of the large
muscles. For example: crawling, walking, climbing, etc.
http://www.physiotherapyfoundation.ca/i
mages/stock_pix/Baby-Boy-walking.jpg
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Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills involve co-ordination of the small
muscles (manipulation). For example: grasping, turning
knobs, drawing, etc.
http://goodtoknow.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/111%7C000001fdb%7C794c_orh100000w614_toddler-drawing.jpg
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Physical changes during Infancy
The infant’s growth:
 A period of rapid growth
 Weight usually doubles by 6 months and is three times birth
weight by 12 months
 Length and height changes are equally rapid
 Muscles, bones and nerve tissues mature
See: Kearns, Birth to big school 2010 pages 80 - 83
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Fostering Physical Skills of Infants
http://bornangels.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/babycrawling-300x183.jpg
http://www.elc.udel.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2010/04/infant-300x225.jpg
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Fostering Physical Skills of Infants
Educators need to:
- Provide a balanced , nutritious diet
- Follow infant’s lead in exploring the physical environment
- Offer appropriate encouragement
- Provide a clean, safe and stimulating environment
- Provide variety
- Allow for repetition and mastery
- Include music to stimulate movement
- Monitor each child for a range of physical skills and note
frustrations etc.
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Gross Motor Development During Toddlerhood
http://sheldonbrown.com/images/9305N14R25irst%20Bike.jpg
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Gross Motor Development During Toddlerhood
The Toddler:
Walks well with feet slightly apart
Stops for obstacles
Walks backwards
Displays much energy
Show more flexibility at knees and ankles
Displays better balance
Now runs
Walks upstairs (two feet per step)
By 30-36 months walks downstairs
Jumps off bottom step, one foot leading
the other
 Kicks a large stationary ball
 Pushes a tricycle along with feet
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http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-pagemain/ehow/images/a06/6r/k7/developfine-gross-motor-skills-800x800.jpg
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Supporting Toddler’s Gross Motor Skills
Educators need to provide a range of play equipment:
- Wooden tricycles
- Trolleys
- Stepping stones
- Large balls
- Bean bags
- Small tunnels
- Large cardboard boxes
http://kennedymontessori.com/resources/_wsb_400x242_Tod
dler+outside.JPG
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Fine Motor Development During Toddlerhood
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Fine Motor Development During Toddlerhood
The Toddler:
 By 18 months uses a spoon well
 Builds with stacking blocks
 Pushes in large puzzle pieces
 Strings large beads with a stiff threader
 Uses two hands to cut with scissors
 Grasps a pencil between thumb and forefinger (pincer
grip)
 Hammers large knobs and wooden pegs and turn knobs
 Undresses well though finds dressing more difficult
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Supporting Toddler’s Fine Motor Skills
Educators need to provide or encourage:
 Spoon and cup play in both dramatic play and in the sandpit
 Appropriate sized buttons and zippers
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on clothing
Puzzles with large pieces
Large beads for threading
Thick paint brushes
Nesting cups
Water play
http://www.toddler-activities-athome.com/image-files/toddler-blocks.jpg
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Gross Motor Development during the Preschool Years
Refer to Page 34 and 35 in the Book of Readings
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Fine Motor Development during the Preschool Years
Refer to Page 34 and 35 in the Book of Readings
http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=preschoolers+self+help+skills&start=84&hl=en&safe=active&gbv=2&biw=1152&bih=658&tbm=isch&tbnid=6je0AXQNOxwQJM:&imgre
furl=http://
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Motor Development During Middle Childhood
Refer to Page 36 in the Book of Readings
 Children develop, refine and find
new ways to extend basic skills
gained in early childhood
(running, balancing, hopping, drawing)
 Skill development can be observed
through ball play, bike riding, skipping,
dancing, writing etc.
 There are a wide range of individual
differences related to practice and
inherited characteristics
 Boys tend to be stronger than girls but
girls display more muscular flexibility
http://www.riverchaseumc.org/clientimages/34137
/recreation_ministry/rebounders.jpg
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