Physical Development

Physical activity is vital in children's all-round development, enabling them to pursue happy, healthy and active lives. Gross and fine motor experiences develop incrementally throughout early childhood, starting with sensory explorations and the development of a child's strength, coordination and positional awareness though tummy time, crawling and play movement with both objects and adults.

Early Learning Goals for Physical Development

Gross Motor Skills:

• Negotiate space and obstacles safely, with consideration for themselves and others.
• Demonstrate strength, balance and coordination when playing
• Move energetically, such as running, jumping, dancing, hopping, skipping and climbing

Fine Motor Skills:

• Hold a pencil effectively in preparation for fluent writing - using the tripod grip in almost all cases.
• Use a range of small tools, including scissors, paint brushes and cutlery
• Begin to show accuracy and care when drawing

Resources

• Help your child move and play every day - leaflet (PDF document) 
• Physical development 0-6 years old case studies (PDF dcoument)
• Tummy Time - NCT guidance
• Reasons for encouraging Tummy Time (PDF document)