CHAPTER 13

The Physical Domain

Kansas Early Learning STANDARDS

Develops Gross Motor Skills PHD Benchmark 1.1: Moves body with control and

balance (spatial awareness and coordination) Pre3 1: Balances on one foot Pre3 2: Hops on one foot Pre4 1: Runs around obstacles, turns corners

Standards Continued

PHD Benchmark 1.2: Coordinates movements in space to accommodate objects and boundaries Pre3 1:Steers wheeled toys Pre3 2: Kicks a large ball Pre4 1: Moves body into position to catch a ball, and

then throws the ball in the right direction

Developmentally Appropriate Practice

Children have opportunities throughout the day to move freely and use large muscles in planned movement activities. Planned indoor and outdoor activities, , involving balancing, running, jumping and other vigorous movements, are provided to increase the child’s understanding of movement and to support gross motor development.

Inappropriate Practices

Opportunities for large muscle activity(indoor or outdoor) is limited to once a day or less. Outdoor time is limited because it is viewed as interfering with instruction time.

Adults are NOT involved during outdoor time, which is viewed as recess (a way to get children to use up excess energy) rather than an integral part of the children's skill development and learning.

Teaching Strategies

Use learning centers to teach skillsProvide opportunities for children to

explore equipment and try out physical behaviors suggested by the equipment or materials

Observe children’s performance of each skill or interest

Demonstrate the skill to be mastered and incorporate do-it signals

Perceptual Motor skills

Spatial Awareness: where the body is in terms of others in the environment.

Figure Ground Perception: determining what is in the foreground and in the background usually involves auditory or visual perception skills. (children finding objects that are inside the picture of many)

Temporal Awareness: rhythm is one kind of organized time that young children can do

Perceptual Motor Skills

Balance Static Balance; ability to maintain a posture while

holding still Dynamic Balance: ability to remain in a desired

position while moving

Body and Directional Awareness

Body awareness: knowledge about names and functions of the various parts of the body

Directional awareness: knowledge of a combination of the understanding of concepts such as

Up and Down Front and back Left and right

PHD Standard 2: Develops Fine Motor Skills

PHD Benchmark 2.1: Develops small muscles with purpose and coordination Pre 3 1: Cuts out simple shapes Pre3 2:Draws and paints with some detail Pre3 3:Manages large buttons and zippers Pre4 1:Reproduces some shapes and letters with

writing utensils Pre4 2: Grasps scissors with thumb on top

Appropriate Practice

Children have opportunities throughout the day to develop fine motor skills through play activities such as pegboards, beads to string, construction sets and puzzles; drawing, painting , clay sculpting, cutting, and other similar activities, and such routines as pouring juice or dressing themselves.

Inappropriate Practices

Children are given fine motor tasks that are too difficult or are expected to persist at fine motor work for long periods of time.

Teachers provide insufficient opportunity for children to develop fine motor skill. Fine motor activity is limited to handwriting practice, coloring pre-drawn worksheets or similar structured lessons.

Fine Motor skills

Coordination of sensory information with the motoric action is necessary. These skills take time and practice to develop.

General Principles of Fine Motor Development

The proximal-distal principle in which the shoulder, arm, wrists and then finger muscles are used in succession as children move on to greater control

Maturation, learning and practice are all significant factors in a child’s ultimate success: maturation alone does not lead to skillful performance

Children acquire knowledge and skill gradually and are heavily influenced by the presence of models in the environment

Continued

Mature performance is the result of years of practice

Growth or the increase of the size of the hands may contribute to children’s learning some skills, such as keyboarding and piano playing because of the reach that is requires to use the correct form

Children progress through the same developmental sequences although considerable variation in rates can be seen.

Continued

Provide suggestions and strategies to support the child’s learning.

Intersperse guided practice with modelingEmphasize qualitative movement over

quantitative outcomesProvide encouragement and feedback to

children about their performanceUse problem solving strategies to explore

movement concepts.

Encourage suggestions from the childrenEstablish guidelines for safety, level of

participation ad respect for others.

To encourage Perceptual Motor Skills

Provide opportunities to practice balance that are simple at first, then move on to more challenging opportunities.

Incorporate concepts of spatial and time awareness into other domains as opportunities arise.

Select noncompetitive group games or modify familiar games to reduce or eliminate competition

Use directional language in context daily, including left and right for older children,

Use accurate language for naming body parts

Provide safety information and guidance to prevent hazards as children explore their bodies' functions and capabilities.

With younger children, provide an uncluttered background for objects you want them to see.

PHD Benchmark 3.2: Follows safety rules/precautions

Pre3 1: Knows common safety rules that have been discussed

Pre3 2:Behaves appropriately during emergency evacuation drills

Pre4 1: Recognizes warning symbols and communicates their meaning (red light, stop sign, poison symbol, etc)

PHD Standard 3 Demonstrates behaviors that promote good health

PHD Benchmark 3.3: Practices good personal hygiene Pre3 1: Takes care of own toileting needs Pre 4 1Washes and dries hands before eating and

after toileting Pre 4 2: Brushes teeth independently after meals

KS Health and Safety ELS

PHD Standard Demonstrates behaviors that promote good health.

Benchmark 3.1 Exhibits healthy eating habits Pre3 1: Eats with fork and/or spoon Pre3 2: Transfers food and liquid between containers,

(serve self during family meals) Pre4 1: Identifies different food groups Pre4 2: Able to scoop from large bowl to open plate

(serve self during family meals)

Appropriate Practices

Children have opportunities and teachers’ support to demonstrate and practice developing self help skills, such as dressing, toileting, serving and feeding themselves, brushing teeth, washing hands, and helping to pick up toys. Teachers are patient when ther are occasional toileting accidents, spilled food and unfinished jobs.

Inappropriate Practices

Teachers or other adults often perform routine tasks for children because it is faster and easier.

Adults display anger or shame children for toileting accidents or spills.

Health, Safety and Nutrition

Must be included in the curriculum. Children learn this best through modeling,

and direct teaching.We can extend this to families as well.

Health, Nutrition and Safety

Plan vigorous physical activity every day.Demonstrate concern for your fitness and health

so that children an imitate what you do. Incorporate health and safety education when

applicableCommunicate regularly with familiesUse mealtimes to teach nutrition and proper

eating habitsWhen talking about food choices, use the phrase a

better choice rather than good foods and bad foods.