Physical Physical Development in Early Development in Early
ChildhoodChildhood
Physical Physical Development in Early Development in Early
ChildhoodChildhood
Dr. Linda Kight WinterDr. Linda Kight Winter
Developmental Milestones
• Tasks most children can perform at certain ages.
• Genetics and experience play a role in the ages on the milestones.
Physical Growth in EC
• Leads away from unsteadiness of childhood• center of gravity is high in toddlers
Physical Growth in EC
• torso grows longer, body lengthens
• muscles get stronger• center of gravity shifts closer to
belly button
Gross Motor Skills
• skills like running, jumping, climbing, and throwing, that require the use of large muscle groups in the arms and legs, as well as strength and stamina
Developed through…
• Running, walking, galloping, tiptoeing
• Throwing, catching • Climbing, jumping, rock walls• Balancing and Spinning
Activities that foster Gross Motor Development
• Follow the leader
• Simon Says• Obstacle
Courses• Relay Races
Activities that foster Gross Motor Development• Dancing• Running Stepping Stones• Bean Bags Balanced on Head• Pretend to be Cars, Planes etc.
Rough and Tumble Play
• Not violent• Builds Camaraderie• Relieve Tension• Uses several muscle groups at once
End of preschool/Beginning of Kindergarten
• Start, stop, and change directions while running
• Walk up and down stairs while alternating feet
• Balance while walking on a beam• Hop on one foot ten or more times• Use a swing independently
Fine Motor Development
• The coordination of small muscle groups in the arms, hands, and fingers used to complete tasks like drawing, zipping, snipping, tying, and molding with clay
Activities that foster fine motor
development• Using toys with zippers, buttons,
and buckles• Stringing pasta on yarn• Carving designs into clay• Cutting pictures from magazines• Singing songs involving finger
play (“Itsy Bitsy Spider”)
Scribbling• 15 months to 4 years• large zigzagging lines and non-
descript shapes about which they will tell stories
Preschematic
• Ages 3-7• faces, protruding arms and legs,
houses, repetitive practice, objects, people floating in space
Schematic• Ages 6-10• people attached to ground• Closer proportion to real world• blue sky attached to top of page
Fine Motor Milestones by
the end of preschool• Hold a pencil• Write letters• Draw pictures• Cut with scissors• String beads• Button large buttons• Zip a zipper• Eat with fork and
spoon
Other factors affecting physical development
• Prenatal and medical care • Nutrition• Sleep• Environment• Genetics• Disabilities• Poverty