Children’s Physical Development

INSTRUCTIONS: Suggest practical teaching implications based on identified milestones in children’s

physical development. Write your answers in the spaces provided.

INFANCY AND TODDLERHOOD: BIRTH TO AGE 2 (APPROX.)

● Body doubles in height and quadruples in weight

● Motor skills progress from simple reflexes to coordinated motor abilities, such as grasping and
walking

● Sensory and perceptual abilities develop rapidly

Provide Sensory Stimulation. Infants and toddlers are sensory learners. Teachers should provide a
variety of sensory experiences, such as different textures, colors, and sounds, to stimulate their
senses and promote cognitive development.

EARLY CHILDHOOD: AGES 2-6 (APPROX.)

● Readiness for different types of activities starts at different rates

● Physical strength increases and body proportions become adult-like

● Athletic skills such as running, jumping, and hopping, dramatically improve

● Fine motor skills, such as writing and drawing, develop slowly

● Gender differences in motor skills begin to emerge

Implement Play-based Learning. Incorporating games and play into learning is a suitable approach for
early childhood education, as it will provide children with engaging experiences that enhance their
motor and athletic skills while also fostering the development of important abilities like creativity,
social interaction, and communication.

MIDDLE CHILDHOOD: AGES 7-9 (APPROX.)

● Physical growth slows, but slight height spurts occur

● Expansion of heart and lung capacities supports more physical endurance

● Athletic and fine motor skills become more refined

 Teachers can focus on meeting the specific needs of each child by breaking them into smaller groups
based on their learning styles or goals. Within these groups, teachers can give targeted lessons,
activities, and materials that are just right for that group. This way, teachers can give each child the
help and encouragement they need and make them feel like they are a part of a community. Small
groups also help with teamwork, talking to each other, and growing as a person, which makes
learning better for young children overall.

LATE CHILDHOOD: AGES 10-12 (APPROX.)

● Puberty begins with rising hormone levels

● Girls’ growth spurt begins with gains in height, weight, and musculature

● Gender-specific physical changes appear: enlargement of breasts in girls and testes in boys

● In physical maturation, boys lag, on average, 2 years behind girls

As physical changes in a child's body emerge in the late childhood stage due to puberty, teach
practical and informative lessons on how to cope with these physical changes. These include proper
grooming, inform about appropriate clothing, introduction to the reproductive system. Create a
learning environment where these physical changes are acceptable and that these changes are
normal / natural occurrences in order to address their worries and concerns about puberty.

EARLY ADOLESCENCE: AGES 13-15 (APROX.)

● Body continues to grow in height and weight

● Girls growth spurt peaks, while boys typically begin it

● Motor performance gradually increases, but often levels off for girls

● Girls usually start to menstruate and boys to ejaculate

Educators should prioritize fostering self-acceptance among students. Encourage them to embrace
their bodies and appreciate their uniqueness. Shift the focus from achieving physical perfection to
valuing their bodies' abilities. By instilling self-acceptance, teachers lay the groundwork for students
to develop a healthy body image and prioritize self-care. Empowering students with self-acceptance
enables them to prioritize their health and well-being. They make decisions that promote their
physical and mental health. They navigate the physical changes of adolescence with confidence and
resilience.

Reference:
WGBH Educational Foundation. (2001). Life span development: Our amazing capacity for change. Discovering
Psychology. Retrieved from
http://www.learner.org/series/discoveringpsychology/development/index.html