Eastern Mindoro College

BONGABONG, ORIENTAL MINDORO

Tel. No. (043)-283-5479; email_1945 @ yahoo.com
COLLEGE DEPARTMENT

NAME: COURSE: BSEd

DATE: CHILD & ADOLESCENT LEARNERS & LP ROOM:
CONTACT NO. INSTRUCTOR: MR. J. MAGTIBAY
EMAIL ADD: RATING:

LESSON TITLE: MODULE 18- PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY SCHOOLERS

WEEK 17 , 3 HOURS
I. FOCUS:
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
• Described the physical characteristics of early school-aged children
• Discussed ways on hoe to encourage an age-appropriate active physical lifestyle
to primary school children
• Enumerated ideas on how to apply the concepts in the teaching learning-process.

II. INTRODUCTION: Physical development involves many different factors: height, weight,
appearance, visual, hearing and motor abilities. Primary school children undergo many different
changes as they go through this stage of development and could be caused by different factors,
both natural and environmental.

III. STRATEGIES
A. ABSTRACTION AND GENERALIZATION
GEAR UP YOUR MIND!

Highlights: PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY SCHOOLERS

Physical growth during primary school years is slow but steady. During this stage, physical
development involves: 1) having good muscle control and coordination, 2) developing eye-hand-
coordination, 3) having good personal hygiene, and 4) being aware of good safety habits. These
children are extremely active; they often release their energy in some forms of nervous habits like
fidgeting, nail biting and pencil chewing. Activities should be alternated between strenuous one and
relaxing or quiet activities.

Height and Weight

This period of gradual and steady growth will give children time to get used to the changes in their
bodies. An average increase in height of a little over two inches a year in both boys and girls will
introduce them to many different activities that they can do with greater accuracy. Girls tend to develop
additional fat cells relative to muscle cells. A child’s legs are longer and more proportioned to the body.
There are factors that indicate how much a child grows or how much changes in the body will take
place like: genes, food, climate exercise, medical condition, and disease or illness.
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Bones and Muscles

Childhood years are the peak bone-producing years - bones grow longer and broader. This the best
time for parents to educate children of good dietary and exercise habits to help them have a strong,
healthy bones throughout their lives. Replacement of primary teeth occurs. Lifestyle factors like
nutrition and physical activity can influence the increase of bones mass during childhood. Calcium
intake will greatly help in strengthening bones and muscles. Activities which use heavy pressures will
be difficult for growing bones, muscles and ligaments.

Motor Development
Children during this stage love to move a lot - run, skip, hop, jump, roll, and dance because their
gross motor skill are already developing. Performing unimanual (use of one hand) and bi-manual (use
of two hands) are more controlled. Graphic activities such as writing and drawing are more controlled.
Motor development skills include coordination, balance, speed agility and power. Coordination is a
series of movements organized and timed to occur in a particular way to bring about a particular result.
Balance is the child’s ability to maintain the equilibrium or stability of his/her body in different positions.
Static balance is the ability to maintain equilibrium in a fixed position. Dynamic balance is the ability
to maintain equilibrium while moving. Speed is the ability to cover a great distance in the shortest
possible time. Agility is one’s ability to quickly change or shift the direction of the body. Power is the
ability to perform a maximum effort in the shortest possible time. All these motor skills are vital in
performing different activities, games and sports. Development of these skills may spell the difference
between success and failure in future endeavor of the child.

Issues Affecting Physical Development

1. Obesity –Overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese into their adulthood and more
prone to develop non-communicable diseases like diabetes and some cardiovascular diseases at much
younger age
2. Childhood Nutrition - Malnutrition has been proven to have serious effect on the physical and
mental development of children. Good supply of vitamins, minerals and protein food in fruits and
vegetables is necessary.
3. Sleep –Primary-school age children need 9-11 hours of sleep everyday including daytime naps.
Poor and inadequate sleep may result to mood swings, behavioral problems such as hyperactivity and
cognitive problems.

Implication to Child Care, Education and Parenting

Two major ways to help primary school-age children to be physically healthy: 1) provide them with
good nutrition, and 2) involve them in coordinated and age-appropriate physical activities. Health care
providers, parents and caregivers must do the following:

1. Encourage children to join in related program during summer (any activity like sports)
2. Advocate better nutrition in foods provided in the school canteen
3. Provide a balance between rigorous physical play activity and quite activities
4. Create an exercises plan for children (promote motor skills and improves strength and
endurance, builds healthy bones and muscles and increase positive emotions)
5. Maintain a daily sleep schedule
6. Make children’s bedroom conducive for a peaceful sleep.
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B. APPLICATION/ANALYSIS
1. Paste a picture of yourself when you were around grade 1-3. Write a description on the
following areas: height, weight, body shape, and activities you could do.
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2. Observe primary schoolers. What can you conclude on their general physical
characteristics?
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3. What do you think are the necessary skills that will help them to be physically ready for
primary schooling?
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4. What physical characteristics does the exercise develop?

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5. To be a teacher in the primary grade, what are you supposed to do to promote your pupil’s
physical well-being?
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