Physical Development Through the Physical Development Through the CurriculumCurriculum

Development of the Development of the Physical SelfPhysical Self

An overview of typical physical An overview of typical physical development in early childhood, including development in early childhood, including the development of children’s large the development of children’s large muscle, fine muscle and sensory-muscle, fine muscle and sensory-perceptual developmentperceptual development

Provides a framework for planning a Provides a framework for planning a comprehensive range of activities that comprehensive range of activities that fosters the full development of each child. fosters the full development of each child.

Basic Principles of Physical Basic Principles of Physical DevelopmentDevelopment

Development occurs in predictable Development occurs in predictable patterns and sequencespatterns and sequences

The course of development moves from The course of development moves from head to tail-cephalcaudalhead to tail-cephalcaudal

The course of development moves from The course of development moves from large to fine muscle controllarge to fine muscle control

Physical Development and Physical Development and Motor DevelopmentMotor Development

A lifelong process of continuous change A lifelong process of continuous change based on:based on: MaturationMaturation Prior experiencesPrior experiences New motor activitiesNew motor activities

Components of Motor DevelopmentComponents of Motor Development

Four Phases of motor development Four Phases of motor development (Gallahue, 1993)(Gallahue, 1993)

Reflexive MovementReflexive Movement• During the first year of lifeDuring the first year of life

Rudimentary movementRudimentary movement• The second year of lifeThe second year of life

Fundamental movementFundamental movement• The next four or five yearsThe next four or five years

Specialized movementSpecialized movement• Begins to appear around age sevenBegins to appear around age seven

Body ControlBody Control

Gross-motor or Large motor: Gross-motor or Large motor: movements of the entire body movements of the entire body or large parts of the bodyor large parts of the body

Locomotor: a change of location of Locomotor: a change of location of the bodythe body

Non-locomotor: balancing or Non-locomotor: balancing or stabilizingstabilizing

Manipulative: the operation and Manipulative: the operation and control of limited and precise control of limited and precise movements of the small musclesmovements of the small muscles

Six important elements of body Six important elements of body controlcontrol

Walking, running, jumping, Walking, running, jumping, hopping, throwing, and balancinghopping, throwing, and balancing

Body ControlBody Control

Fine motor or manual Fine motor or manual motor: movements of motor: movements of the small muscles the small muscles and its extremities. and its extremities. Basic grasping, Basic grasping, manipulation skills. manipulation skills. Pincer grasp, holding Pincer grasp, holding

grip, palmar grasp, grip, palmar grasp, tripod grasptripod grasp

Body ControlBody Control

Sensory-Perceptual Sensory-Perceptual Development: a process in Development: a process in which the child develops the which the child develops the skill and ability to take in and skill and ability to take in and interpret information from the interpret information from the environment and respond to it environment and respond to it from movementfrom movement

The senses, eye-hand The senses, eye-hand coordination, kinesthetic sense, coordination, kinesthetic sense, perceptual motor skills, perceptual motor skills, perceptual developmentperceptual development

Gross Motor Activities Gross Motor Activities

Activities that involve the large muscles of the Activities that involve the large muscles of the bodybody Physical Fitness:Physical Fitness: research shows that early childhood research shows that early childhood

teachers need to be more concerned with providing teachers need to be more concerned with providing physical fitness types of activities on a physical fitness types of activities on a daily basis

Outdoor play:Outdoor play: remember to try and remember to try and provide planned activities outdoors as well as unstructured free play. outdoors as well as unstructured free play.

Block Play:Block Play: Block support all domains of Block support all domains of development: large and small muscles, concept development: large and small muscles, concept learning, cooperative play, role playing, etc.learning, cooperative play, role playing, etc.

Fine Motor ActivitiesFine Motor Activities

Fine motor typically involves the muscles of the Fine motor typically involves the muscles of the hands and wrists. These muscles are needed in hands and wrists. These muscles are needed in precise and small movements.precise and small movements.

Sensory ActivitiesSensory Activities

Activities that are primarily for tactile enjoyment, Activities that are primarily for tactile enjoyment, those that sharpen sensory acuitythose that sharpen sensory acuity

These are essential for brain development These are essential for brain development because it is through exploration with the body because it is through exploration with the body and the senses that children's earliest learning and the senses that children's earliest learning takes placetakes place

Sensory information and identification is used to Sensory information and identification is used to discriminate as children match, seriate, or discriminate as children match, seriate, or classify sensory stimulationclassify sensory stimulation

Caring For the BodyCaring For the Body

In addition to establishing routines and In addition to establishing routines and activities that lay the foundation for activities that lay the foundation for recognizing the importance of physical recognizing the importance of physical exercise, children should learn about exercise, children should learn about appropriate nutrition, health, and safety appropriate nutrition, health, and safety concepts. concepts.

Useful Web SitesUseful Web Sites

The following are some web sits that you The following are some web sits that you may find helpful when thinking about may find helpful when thinking about physical development and health and physical development and health and safety with young children.safety with young children.

Kid-Fit Physical EducationKid-Fit Physical Education Nutrition ExplorationsNutrition Explorations Toys and Materials From HomeToys and Materials From Home