1. Let’s get physical Monday 30th January 2017

2. What do we mean by Physical Development
Gross motor skills involve using the body’s big muscles and in making whole body movements. It is about understanding the space around you and being able to judge speed, direction and distances. Fine motor skills involve using the body’s small muscle groups including fingers and hands, toes and feet. These movements usually develop after a child has developed their gross motor skills.

3. Why is it important?
It helps to build self-confidence and leads to your child becoming more independent
Movement often requires them to play or interactive with friends by joining in games which helps your child to develop social skills and builds a sense of identity
Makes a difference to your child’s emotional development and well-being
With gross motor skills come co-ordination, stamina and spatial awareness
Fine motor skills link with hand-eye co-ordination and dexterity and are important for many areas
It is the foundation of becoming a confident learner.
Movement is fundamental to all aspects of learning

4. When do children develop physical skills
When do children develop physical skills? Nursery age children should be able to….
Gross motor skills
Crawl along a line
Walk forwards, backwards, sideways and for extended distances
Run without falling for at least 10 metres
Jump on the spot
Walk heel/toe along a line
Balance along a bench/plank/beam that’s off the floor
Able to out arms above their head
Able to cross arms across their body with hand to opposite shoulder
Able to stand on 1 leg for 5 seconds
Develops independence in dressing themselves

5. When do children develop physical skills
When do children develop physical skills? Nursery age children should be able to….
Fine motor skills for a 3 year old
Builds a tower with at least 9 blocks
Catches a ball with extended arms
Demonstrates preferred hand in manipulation
Strings large beads
Manages simple board/inset puzzles
Holds pencil in a basic tripod grip
Copies a vertical line, circle and horizontal line
Imitates a cross
Scribbles

6. When do children develop physical skills
When do children develop physical skills? Nursery age children should be able to….
Fine motor skills for a 4 year old
Becomes more confident with preferred hand
Stacks at least 10 blocks
Strings small beads and laces simple shapes
Places pegs in holes on boards
Completes simple puzzles of 3 to 5 pieces
Cuts on lines, straight and curved
Catches a ball with arms slightly flexed
Pencil grip becomes more efficient
Copies a cross and imitates a square
Colours pictures but has difficulty staying in the lines
May be able to write their own name

7. How can we support children’s physical development?
Gross motor
Walk to school
Stories and songs that involve big body movements EG Grand Old Duke of York, Row your boat
Using games equipment including skipping ropes, Frisbees, balls, tennis rackets, swing ball, space hoppers
Tennis racket bubbles
Ball skills to develop throwing and catching. Start with scarves or balloons
Jedi or wand writing
Digging and sweeping
Marching games that require stops and starts on command
Stamping on bubble wrap, walking on a tight-rope (imaginary line)
Riding tricycles, scooters, pedal cars,
Movement and dance sessions - Just dance
Any physical activity including swimming, martial arts, ballet, gymnastics
Large play equipment including for climbing (park, trees) running and balancing
Painting (paints/glittery water) colouring, drawing on paper on the floor, walls (high and low), tables

10. How can you support children’s physical development?
Fine motor
Get dressed and undressed by themselves
Playdough, clay – rolling, twisting, pinching, squeezing
Cooking – mixing, stirring, chopping, kneading
Puzzles board and traditional
Threading – beads and strings, lace lacing toys
Sensory play – drawing shapes with fingers/hands in sand, shaving foam
Using small construction – Duplo, Lego,
Use scissors – snip playdough, snip the edge of a piece of paper to make a fringe
Finger rhymes – 2 Little Dickie Birds, Twinkle little star
Squeezing/popping rice krispies or popping bubble wrap
Clothes pegs around a bowl or on a line
Picking up objects with tongs and tweezers
Dot to dots, mazes, colouring sheets using different crayons etc thin and chubby
Screw toys EG large nuts and bolts, screw top jars

13. Useful websites Let’s get active!
Let’s get active!