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FS-632
Understanding
Physical Development
in Young Children
Sean Brotherson Muscles and A young child’s physical
Family Science Specialist growth first begins as muscles
NDSU Extension Service Motor Skills
gain strength with use and
The growth of a young
children gradually develop
child’s physical abilities is
coordination. The development
truly amazing. Think of all the
Seeing a baby roll over of muscular control is the first
physical abilities a child must
for the first time or develop to adjust to the world:
step in this process.
watching a preschooler learning to see and recognize Think about the words physical
learn to kick a ball are others, rolling over, holding development. They encompass
a bottle or cup, crawling so many different tasks and
precious moments in the around objects and more. abilities. What are some of them
life of a parent or caregiver. and what role do they play?
These are all complex physical
For example, crawling across
Rolling over or eating with tasks that require strength,
the floor is a task young
a spoon are examples of coordination and perception.
children engage in that
They also are developmental
physical development
development. involves physical development.
moments, those windows of
Think about the importance time when parents or caregivers It also involves activities such
of physical abilities and can see the ways in which a as running around outside,
young child is growing and jumping on the bed, grasping a
the role they play in a
developing new skills and parent’s finger or using a pencil
child’s life. abilities. to draw in a coloring book.
www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu • 3
• General to Specific Growth Further information on • Growth During
Large-muscle movement variations in physical abilities Critical Periods
begins with waving of the among children at different Growth in certain areas of a
arms and legs of infants, ages is explored in a separate child’s physical development
and it then develops into publication. may be more important at
the more specific movements particular times during
of an older child who can • Optimal Tendency childhood. For example,
walk and draw a picture. in Growth recent brain research indicates
So, muscle growth begins In children, growth generally the first few years of life
with more general abilities tries to fulfill its potential. are very important in the
and becomes more specific If growth is slowed for a development of the brain’s
and defined as children particular reason, such as growth and for intellectual
get older. malnutrition, the body will competence. Similarly,
try to catch up when it is able the critical time for the
• Differentiation and to do so. This is one reason development of motor skills
Integration in Growth why children may develop is between 18 and 60 months
Differentiation is the process skills in later years even if of age (1½ to 5 years).
that a child’s muscles go delays occurred at an earlier
Research suggests children
through as he or she gains point in their development.
go through four physical
control over specific parts growth cycles: two of slow
of the body and head. • Sequential Growth
growth and two of rapid
Once children have found Different areas of a child’s growth. The first period of
(differentiated) the parts of body will grow at different rapid physical growth goes
their body, they can integrate times. In other words, from conception to the age of
the movements and combine development is orderly 6 months. The rate of growth
specific movements to and occurs in a pattern. gradually slows during the
perform more complex Children must be able to toddler and preschool
physical activities, such as stand before they can walk. periods. The second period
walking, building a block This pattern is evident in of rapid growth is during
tower or riding a bike. a number of ways, such as puberty in the years of pre-
rolling over before sitting up, adolescence and adolescence.
• Variations in Growth sitting up before crawling and Another period of leveling
Children vary in their crawling before walking, etc. off occurs after puberty until
physical abilities at different adult growth is achieved.
ages. Different parts of the
body grow at different rates.
The range of physical skills
to be expected in gross- or
fine-motor development
will be very different for
infants versus preschoolers.
• Example – Rolling a ball Soft plastic ball Gross-motor skills – arm muscles, fine-motor skills –
back and forth with a hands, hand-eye coordination
toddler or preschooler.
www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu • 5
Types of Movement The types of physical sitting and rising are
and Their Benefits movement that children examples of nonlocomotor
engage in and are important movement. This type of
for Children movement helps develop
to their physical development
Children need to move and include the following balance and coordination
be active in many different categories: skills.
ways to reach their full physical
development. Remember the • Locomotor Movement • Manipulative Movement
following points: Movement of the body from Movement that involves
place to place is involved controlled use of the hands
• Children grow and mature and feet is reflected in
in locomotor movement.
at individual rates.
Physical abilities such as manipulative movement.
• Children’s motor development crawling, walking, hopping, Physical abilities such as
progresses through a sequence. jumping, running, leaping, grasping, opening and closing
galloping and skipping are hands, waving, throwing
• Children need to build on
examples of locomotor and catching are examples
what they know, going from
movement. This type of of manipulative movement.
simple to complex.
movement helps develop This type of movement helps
Different types of physical gross-motor skills. develop fine-motor skills
movement are important in a and hand-eye coordination.
child’s physical development. • Nonlocomotor Movement
Parents and caregivers can Movement of the body
benefit from learning the while staying in one place
importance of patterns of is involved in nonlocomotor
physical development to movement. Physical abilities
support children as they such as pushing, pulling,
twisting, turning, wiggling,
learn to move and develop
physical abilities.
Conclusion
Running, jumping, skipping, hopping, drawing, cutting, pasting, stacking –
these are the skills young children develop as they grow physically.
They make possible the interactions and activities that bring richness and enjoyment to anyone’s life.
From muscles to motor skills, the unfolding picture of a child’s physical development is an exciting
experience to observe.
Parents and caregivers should pay attention to their child’s physical growth and give loving support
as their children develop these skills.
www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu • 7
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8 • FS-632 Bright Beginnings #8 – Understanding Physical Development in Young Children