What is physical development: Early Movers — What is physical development?

Опубликовано: December 4, 2022 в 1:23 am

Автор: alexxlab

Категории: Miscellaneous

Early Movers — What is physical development?

Physical development (PD) is the growth and development of both the brain and body in infancy and early childhood.

PD is the growth and development of both brain and body and involves developing control of muscles and physical coordination. This control is used in a whole range of skills of daily functioning and encompasses children’s ability to do a range of different tasks, such as speaking, making friends and understanding the world around them.

Progression towards this control is not defined by the child’s chronological age, but by the opportunity to acquire skills. A child with delayed PD may catch up, especially with an appropriate intervention, but young children need to be given regular opportunities and encouragement to practice and refine their physical skills through being active.

Vital foundations for good physical development

Primary (movement) senses

The vestibular (balance) system deals with the sensation of gravity and movement.
The proprioceptive system processes information from muscles and joints and enables us to know where the different parts of our body are, how they are moving, and how much strength our muscles need to use. It makes you aware of your posture, movement and body position.
The tactile (touch) system – discriminates sensations to the skin including pressure, temperature and pain.

Secondary senses

The visual system – processes information taken in by the eyes and includes control of eye movement to fix on, and track, objects.
The auditory system – locates and processes sound information to the ears.
The olfactory system – processes our sense of smell.
The gustatory system – processes our sense of taste.

All seven sensory systems need to be fully developed in early childhood and integrated so they work as one unified system. The healthy functioning of our sensory systems can be taken for granted – we only tend to notice problems when they don’t work and we tend to be unaware of the role they play in everyday life.

How do the sensory systems impact on daily activities?

Efficient and seamless processing of sensory information enables a child to ‘make sense’ of the world around them and respond appropriately.

For example:

A well-developed vestibular system enables a child to be alert, feel safe or ‘grounded’, control their eye muscles, move safely in the environment or sit still. In contrast, a poorly developed vestibular system has been linked to poor attention span and fidgeting in children.
A well-developed proprioceptive system helps a child move safely, get dressed and use tools. It underpins understanding important ideas like ‘left and right’, the use of prepositions in English such as ‘over and under’, ‘towards ‘or ‘away’, and concepts of maths and science such as size, weight and force.

Being aware of these systems can help us to nurture PD in children.

Keep reading

Physical Development

Physical development refers to the physical and biological changes that occur in humans between birth and adolescence.1 As a child grows and changes, he increases his ability to explore and interact with the world around him.2

There are a number of principles involved in a child’s physical development. The child’s physical abilities grow in a directional pattern from large muscle groups to small muscles, from head to toe, and from the center of the body to the extremities. General movements develop into more specific movements and are integrated to perform more complex physical activities. Physical abilities will vary at different ages and at different rates, but will be in a sequential order, since a child must be able to stand before he can walk.3

Developmental milestones indicate a child’s physical ability at different ages. These milestones are common guidelines that will vary in timing from child to child. Physical development can be influenced by genetics, size at birth, nutrition, body build, birth order, temperament, social class, ethnicity, and culture.4

From birth to 2 years of age children physically experience a rapid growth and change in the proportions of their body parts. Their ability to get around increases along with their development of eye-hand coordination. From 2 to 6 years of age children lose their babyish appearance and develop more mature proportions of their bodies as their arms and legs lengthen. They exhibit boundless energy for physical activities, with boys generally being more active than girls. By school age, children show steady gains in height and weight and go through the loss and replacement of their primary teeth. They have physically refined the use of their muscle groups and can participate in structured play activities.5

The physical movement of the muscles in the body is divided into two skill groups: gross motor skills and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills use the larger movements of the arms, legs, feet, or the entire body when performing activities, such as crawling, running, and jumping. Fine motor skills are smaller actions using the hands, wrists, fingers, feet, and toes to perform activities, such as grasping objects. Both types of motor skills usually develop together, since coordination of these skills is required for many activities.6

Infants

Infants first learn to lift their heads and shoulders, then proceed gradually from rolling over to creeping on their stomachs and finally crawling. As they begin to climb and support their weight in a standing position, they develop the ability to walk.7 Fine motor skills for infants require eye-hand coordination and the ability to grasp an object.8

Toddlers

Toddlers can run, climb stairs, and begin to kick and throw balls, although they will have difficulty catching balls.9 The fine motor skills become more sophisticated as they can scribble with crayons, turn book pages, and stack blocks. The dominance of either their right or left hand usually emerges at this stage.10

Preschoolers

Preschoolers can hop, jump over objects, and catch and throw balls more precisely.11 Developing more delicate fine motor skills is a challenge that requires patience, which preschoolers have in short supply. Their central nervous system is still in the process of maturing to sufficiently relay complex messages from the brain to their fingers.12

School Age

By school age, children can ride bicycles, jump rope, and play a variety of games using balls, which require eye-hand coordination, visual perception, and coordination.13 They can draw, paint, make crafts, and put puzzles together. Children will continue to develop their fine motor skills through sports, hobbies, computer use, and learning musical instruments.14

As children mature, they continually use their muscles in more complex ways. Play allows children to practice these complicated actions and helps them develop an awareness of body, space, and direction. Physical development is enhanced by children’s play.15

1. “What is Physical Development?” Reference.com. < http://answers.reference.com/Wellness/Mind/what_is_physical_development > 26 Oct. 2010.
2. Brotherson, Sean. “Understanding Physical Development in Young Children.” North Dakota State University. < http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/famsci/fs632w.htm > 25 Oct. 2010.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. McDevitt, T. m. and J. E. Ormrod. “Developmental Trends: Physical Development at Different Ages.” Education.com. < http://www.education.com/reference/article/physical-development-different-age/ > 25 Oct. 2010.
6. “Fine Motor Skills.” Encyclopedia of Children’s Health. < http://www.healthofchildren.com/E-F/Fine-Motor-Skills.html > 22 Oct. 2010.
7. “Gross Motor Skills.” Encyclopedia of Children’s Health. < http://www.healthofchildren.com/G-H/Gross-Motor-Skills.html > 22 Oct. 2010.
8. Op. cit., “Fine Motor Skills. ”
9. Op. cit., “Gross Motor Skills.”
10. Op. cit., “Fine Motor Skills.”
11. Op. cit., “Gross Motor Skills.”
12. Op. cit., “Fine Motor Skills.”
13. Op. cit., “Gross Motor Skills.”
14. Op. cit., “Fine Motor Skills.”
15. Henniger, M. L. “Play and Physical and Emotional Development.” Education.com. < http://www.education.com/reference/article/play-physical-emotional-development/ > 25 Oct. 2010.

Physical development | it’s… What is Physical Development?

United States Army Physical Development Assessment: Height Measurement and Weighting.

Physical development is a dynamic process of growth (increase in body length and weight, development of body organs and systems, and so on) and biological maturation of a child in a certain period of childhood ^[1] . The process of development of a set of morphological and functional properties of the body ^[2] (growth rate, body weight gain, a certain sequence of increase in various parts of the body and their proportions, as well as the maturation of various organs and systems at a certain stage of development), mainly programmed by hereditary mechanisms and implemented according to a specific plan under optimal living conditions ^[1] .

1 General
2 Basic parameters
3 Physical fitness and fitness
4 Physical performance
5 See also
6 Notes
7 Links

General information

Physical development reflects the processes of growth and development of the organism at certain stages of postnatal ontogenesis (individual development), when the transformation of the genotypic potential into phenotypic manifestations most clearly occurs. Features of the physical development and physique of a person largely depend on his constitution.

Physical development, along with fertility, morbidity and mortality, is one of the indicators of the level of health of the population ^[2] . The processes of physical and sexual development are interconnected and reflect the general laws of growth and development, but at the same time they significantly depend on social, economic, sanitary and hygienic and other conditions, the influence of which is largely determined by a person’s age.

Physical development is understood as continuously ongoing biological processes. At each age stage, they are characterized by a certain complex of morphological, functional, biochemical, mental and other properties of the body related to each other and to the external environment and due to this uniqueness of the supply of physical strength. A good level of physical development is combined with high levels of physical fitness, muscular and mental performance.

Adverse factors affecting the prenatal period and in early childhood can disrupt the sequence of development of the body, sometimes causing irreversible changes. Thus, environmental factors (nutrition, upbringing, social conditions, the presence of diseases, and others) during the period of intensive growth and development of the child can have a greater influence on growth than genetic or other biological factors ^[1] .

Basic parameters

The assessment of physical development is based on the parameters of growth, body weight, the proportions of development of individual parts of the body, as well as the degree of development of the functional abilities of his body (vital capacity of the lungs, muscle strength of the hands, etc. ; muscle development and muscle tone, posture, musculoskeletal -motor apparatus, development of the subcutaneous fat layer, tissue turgor), which depend on the differentiation and maturity of the cellular elements of organs and tissues, the functional abilities of the nervous system and the endocrine apparatus ^[3] . Historically, physical development has been judged mainly by external morphological characteristics. However, the value of such data immeasurably increases in combination with data on the functional parameters of the body. That is why, for an objective assessment of physical development, morphological parameters should be considered together with indicators of the functional state The aerobic system uses oxygen to convert carbohydrates into energy sources. With long sessions, fats and, in part, proteins are also involved in this process, which makes aerobic training almost ideal for fat loss.

Speed endurance – the ability to resist fatigue in submaximal speed loads.

Strength endurance – the ability to resist fatigue with sufficiently long loads of a strength nature. Strength endurance shows how much the muscles can create repeated efforts and for how long to maintain such activity.

Speed-strength endurance – the ability to perform sufficiently long-term exercises of a power nature with maximum speed.

Flexibility – the ability of a person to perform movements with a large amplitude due to the elasticity of muscles, tendons and ligaments. Good flexibility reduces the risk of injury during exercise.

Speed - the ability to alternate between muscle contraction and relaxation as quickly as possible.

Dynamic muscle strength – the ability to maximize the rapid (explosive) manifestation of efforts with heavy weights or own body weight. In this case, a short-term release of energy occurs, which does not require oxygen, as such. The growth of muscle strength is often accompanied by an increase in muscle volume and density – the “building” of muscles.

In addition to the aesthetic value, enlarged muscles are less prone to damage and contribute to weight control, since muscle tissue requires more calories than fat, even during rest.

Dexterity – the ability to perform coordination-complex motor actions.

Body composition – the ratio of fat, bone and muscle tissues of the body. This ratio, in part, shows the state of health and fitness depending on weight and age. Excess body fat increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.

Height-weight characteristics and body proportions – these parameters characterize the size, body weight, distribution of body mass centers, physique. These parameters determine the effectiveness of certain motor actions and the “fitness” of using the athlete’s body for certain sports achievements.

An important indicator of a person’s physical development is posture – a complex morpho-functional characteristic of the musculoskeletal system, as well as his health, an objective indicator of which are positive trends in the above indicators.

Physical fitness and physical fitness

Since the concepts of “physical development” and “physical fitness” are often confused, it should be noted that physical fitness is the result of physical training achieved during the performance of motor actions necessary for the development or performance of professional or sports activities by a person.

Optimal physical readiness is called physical readiness .

Physical fitness is characterized by the level of functionality of various body systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular) and the development of basic physical qualities (strength, endurance, speed, agility, flexibility). Assessment of the level of physical fitness is carried out according to the results shown in special control exercises (tests) for strength, endurance, etc. To assess the level of physical fitness, it must be measured. General physical fitness is measured using tests. The set and content of tests should be different for age, gender, professional affiliation, and also depending on the physical culture and health program used and its purpose.

Physical performance

Human performance is the ability of a person to perform a given function with a particular efficiency.

Notes

↑ ¹ ² ^{9000 3}
9A. V. Mazurin, I. M. Vorontsov. Propaedeutics of childhood diseases. – 1st ed. – M.: Medicine, 1986. – S. 29-30. — 432 p. — 100,000 copies.
↑ ¹ ² TSB: Physical development.
↑ Malyavskaya SI Evaluation of the physical development and puberty of girls. Materials of the 36th regional scientific-practical conference of pediatricians of the Arkhangelsk region. Arkhangelsk, April 26-28, 2005 (part 1).
↑ Sports medicine: textbook. for in-t nat. cult./Ed. V. L. Karpman. M .: Physical culture and sport, 1987. – 304 p.

Physical development | it’s… What is Physical Development?

United States Army Physical Development Assessment: Height Measurement and Weighting.

Physical development is a dynamic process of growth (increase in body length and weight, development of body organs and systems, etc.) and biological maturation of a child in a certain period of childhood ^[1] . The process of development of a set of morphological and functional properties of the body ^[2] (growth rate, body weight gain, a certain sequence of increase in various parts of the body and their proportions, as well as the maturation of various organs and systems at a certain stage of development), mainly programmed by hereditary mechanisms and implemented according to a specific plan under optimal living conditions ^[1] .

1 General
2 Basic parameters
3 Physical fitness and fitness
4 Physical performance
5 See also
6 Notes
7 Links