Physical development of the child

Everything related to the physical growth and progress of the child

The harmonious physical development of children is impossible to imagine without exercise, walking, moving games and dancing. Physical activity boosts the mood and allows the child to develop muscles and has a beneficial effect on immunity and health.

For each age, there are appropriate options for physical activity: for the very young - crawling, activities with Pikler triangle, for older children - running and moving fun with peers, motor-role games. Sports complexes contribute to physical development at almost any age.

Physical development of children from birth up to one year

The development of movement is the main task of an infant in the first months of life. A baby learns to hold his/her head, turn over on the stomach, sit, crawl and walk. A baby also learns to use his/her hands: to pick up, hold and throw things. As a rule, a child can even assemble pyramids and build simple towers out of bricks by the age of eleven months.

Motor activity is extremely important for a baby: children's peculiarities are such that physical development promotes brain development. That is why neuropsychologists and Montessori pedagogues do not recommend limiting the baby's movements with electronic swings or playpens. On the contrary, it is better to encourage crawling and then walking.

Physical development of a child of this age will be faster if you arrange a children's space in the room. For this you need a little: a warm mat, an open and comfortable shelf for toys, if possible - Montessori-mobiles and unbreakable mirror. By the age of three or four months, the infant can be left alone for a short while for independent activity in the arranged space.

A corner for physical activity also contributes to harmonious development: for a baby under one year, for example, the Pikler triangle, created by the Hungarian pediatrician Emmi Pikler, is suitable. It can be purchased for your six or seven-months-old baby. 

This trainer is a climbing frame or a double-sided climbing slide. The slanting surface is as safe as possible for children, and even a small head will not get stuck in the small gap between the steps. 

In the first year of life, a child will also be interested in a small sports area: when choosing a such equipment, take into account the weight of the baby and pay attention to such an indicator as height, so that the purchase will last longer.

After one year, the child masters more complex movements: he/she learns to go up and down stairs, jump on two legs, run fast, ride a scooter, run bike or tricycle. And also to carry weights, to throw a ball at the goal, to catch it. All this is important for development.

This age is characterized by mobility: kids rarely sit still, climb everywhere, climb ladders, climb up slides and hang with pleasure, grasping something with their hands.

Physical activity is just necessary for the proper development of children under three years of age. A child is actively growing and the feeling of his/her body in space, controlling it - important skills that the baby needs to master. 

By the age of three, a child's movements improve, become more precise and coordinated and the kid´s reaction speed increases. Orientation in space also improves significantly. Even holes in the road will not be an obstacle: a child will learn to step or pass over them. 

To make it easy for a child to run and jump, it is important to choose comfortable clothes. Suitable sportswear made of stretch material: pants with an elastic waistband, T-shirts with wide sleeves, comfortable sweatshirts.

Physical development of the child will be faster if you practice sports education: motor- games, dancing to music. There are several options for activities: the first - learn the existing movements, the second - come up with games and dances with your child yourself!

Take your child to playgrounds more often: it is very useful to run there! It is not necessary to put kids at the table instead of having fun running around, imposing "classes for early development" on them.

Do you want to promote the intellectual development of your baby? Create an environment in which the child can choose a book and find a comfortable place to read. 

Physical development is also stimulated by practical life exercises! Performing the exercises of practical life requires coordination of movements not only of two hands, but also of the whole body. If the child succeeds, then this is an excellent indicator of development. In addition, engaging in activities of daily living is the best education. 

Physical development of children from three to six years old

At around the age of three, children have a big jump: it's both growth and physical development. Preschool is a time when children are usually already able to jump on one foot, climb over obstacles, go on their tiptoes and walk on heels. They can also squat and turn their bodies.

How to help your baby learn these skills? Offer your baby lessons while playing.

For example, you can imagine that there is lava on the ground, and you have to walk around it on bumps.

Or imitate the gait of different animals (a bear, a goose, an elephant, a kangaroo) together with your child. 

Glue scotch tape on the floor in the shape of an oval or ellipse and try to walk along the line with your preschooler. 

Or do exercises on the speed: who is the first.

The child will also like such items as a skip rope, a balancer, rubber bumps. Morning exercises will also be useful, they also provide physical development!

Development of coordination allows preschool children to simultaneously perform movements with different parts of the body (for example, shake their head and clap hands). By the way, this is an indicator of readiness for school, and neurogymnastics will help to develop this skill. 

It happens that parents forbid their children to behave too actively in the park or on the playground. Of course, it is much more comfortable if a preschooler sits on a bench for the whole walk, does not run away and does not climb up, and passersby only praise the quiet one: that's what they call good upbringing. But for the child these walks are not very useful.

But moving games with peers have a positive impact not only on physical development, but also on the socialization of the child.

Teachers estimate that noisy games will help the future student become more confident and learn to make new friends.

After four or five years, children can be taught complex motor skills. Physical exercises even allow the kid to accelerate growth. Sports clubs also contribute to the physical development of children at this age: swimming, gymnastics, figure skating, dancing. 

If your child is going to a sports class for the first time, try to be present and see if he/she enjoys doing it. Afterwards, ask your preschooler if he or she wants to continue, and if not, don't insist.

Conclusions

Physical activity is extremely important for the harmonious development of a child. At each age, you can offer your child certain exercises for development.

It will be great if you can install a sports complex at home, exercise and have physical training sessions with your child: all this has a beneficial effect on physical development.

Do not forbid a kid to run around on the playground. And do not forget about comfortable clothes!

Sports pants and T-shirts - the perfect outfit for moving games with peers. This will contribute not only to physical development, but also to socialization.

And closer to the school age a child may be interested in more complex exercises and sports clubs. Just let the child decide for himself/herself whether he/she wants to do sports or not: do not force your child.