Promoting the Development of the Physical Self (Ch. 8)

Promotion of Health and Safety in the Children’s Center Providing safe transportation to school is a must! safety seats and seat belts Children ride in rear-facing car seats until the age of 2 Children should not use adult seat belts until they are 4 feet 9 inches Children must “buckled up”

` Basic ways to protect and foster the physical health of children: Immunizations are required – about 2 million children worldwide under age 5 years still die every year from six vaccine-preventable illnesses: diphtheria, measles, pertussis, polio, tuberculosis and tetanus Unvaccinated children on the rise Vaccinations for adults – rubella (3-day measles) vaccination before pregnancy, annual flue shots for adults and children

Physical examinations should be required before the child enrolls Help families find health care – contact public health nurses in the community The teacher should act as a health screener What to do when a child become ill at school Health precautions - washing hands, not sharing food…,

Sanitize the center- toys, tables… Promote tooth brushing Medicine at school Maintaining the physical safety of children Insurance- protects against lawsuits and provide accident coverage for the children. Safety checks Dangers – keep bug sprays, bleach … away from the children's reach

Basic Principles of Physical Development Physical growth moves from head to tail that is cephalocaudal principal – children control their head and shoulders then down wards Proximodistal – physical control from the center of the body outward (control of the shoulders and arms then hands and fingers)

Developing Large and Fine Motor Skills Large motor skills – balance, body coordination and flexibility Fine motor skills – finger speed, arm steadiness, eye-hand coordination Fostering large-muscle development Use of apparatus Role of the teacher in fostering large-muscle play Provide plenty of opportunity for outdoor play Support children’s play Fostering play in children with special needs

Planning for Specific Perceptual- Motor Activities to Enhance Physical Development Locomotion: rolling, crawling, climbing, jumping, running Balance: on tiptoes and one foot. Using balancing beam, walking on stones Body and space perception: dancing, using different body parts to move Rebound and airborne activities: bouncing, swinging, hanging

Projectile management: using balls or other objects to throw, kick, strike and bounce Management of daily motor activities: self-help skills (buttoning, zippering, tying) Tension releasers: guided relaxation, deep breathing

Fostering Fine-Muscle Development Feeding oneself Buttoning Working with peg boards Puzzles Stringing beads Cutting Connect and pull apart

Using movement exploration: Dancing for self-expression Sensory experience: Water play Sand and mud Textile materials Rice, flour, cornstarch