Physical Development in Children and Adolescents

Physical development is the most readily visible of the child development domains. Parents notice height and weight as well as the development of both fine motor and gross (large) motor skills. It’s important to remember that what we can see physically corresponds to what we can’t see which is brain development. In all developmental domains, the brain is promoting exploration and movement but when exploration and movement occur it also stimulates brain development including both neurogenesis (growth of new brain cells) and synaptogenesis (forming new connections between brain cells). In fact at various times during the first few years of life, a baby’s brain produces so many connections that they end up with more than in an adult brain. Later through a process called pruning, synaptic connections that are not used by the child are eliminated.

Parents play an important role in all of the developmental domains and physical development is equally important. Parent’s bonding with their child develops a sense of feeling safe to explore and positive feedback encourages a child to reach out more and push harder. Parents also provide guidance and support through a process known as “scaffolding”. Providing objects to encourage a baby to reach and grasp, holding the hands of a toddler while they take a few steps, teaching potty training, help a child with buttoning and zipping clothing, helping them learn to ride a bike and playing catch are just a few examples of how parents provide scaffolding to help children develop physical abilities.

In addition to encouraging and teaching specific skills, parents should promote a healthy lifestyle for their children. This includes helping them to get adequate sleep, eat a well-balanced diet and stay active physically. In this endeavor, the best approach for parents to take is to model the behavior as well as teach and encourage these very important health habits. Teaching safety and maintaining a safe home environment (especially in the early years) is also very important. Keeping up with regular check-ups and keeping immunizations up to date is important as well.

If you are concerned about possible delays in your child’s physical development we suggest you use the American Academy of Pediatrics: Motor Delay Tool and then discuss any concerns you have with your pediatrician.

A Few Things Parents Can Do To Promote Physical Development

• Play with your child. Play games that encourage physical development. With baby’s, it could be as simple as showing them an interesting object and encouraging them to grab it and cheering them as they try. Later it is playing outdoor games that encourage skills.
• For great ideas for play activities that encourage physical development as well as other types of development we highly recommend the Gymboree Play and Learn Series.
• Provide your child with toys as well as simple household objects that will encourage physical play.
• When they are ready take them to the park. Let them run. Run with them. Let them play on the equipment like the swings and slides.
• If you have a pool, leave in a complex with a pool or visit friends with a pool or live near natural bodies of water, teach your child to swim at an early age. Check around for programs near you.
• During the summer, make use of programs offered by local recreation and parks department and often community colleges as well that offer all types of instruction in sports and other physical activities.
• Learn yoga as a family, get a video and go for it.
• Go hiking as a family.
• Can’t always play outside? Get Wii Fit and enjoy as a family. Each member should set their own individual goals and encourage each other as well.
• Buy toys that are age appropriate and that encourage physical development and outdoor play here are some suggestions: Sports and Outdoor Toys by Age Group
• Encourage the development of fine motor skills by providing age-appropriate art materials.
• Encourage your child to try out different organized sports. Hopefully, they will find one or two they enjoy.
• Limit screen time. Encourage physical activities and playing with “real toys” rather than “virtual toys”. These two books provide some useful suggestions: Screen Time: How Electronic Media–From Baby Videos to Educational Software–Affects Your Young Child and Reset Your Child’s Brain: A Four-Week Plan to End Meltdowns, Raise Grades, and Boost Social Skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen-Time.
• Encourage your child to participate in after-school sports.
• Encourage your child to participate in scouts.

Ages and Stages: A Parent’s Guide to Normal Childhood Development A comprehensive parent’s guide to your child’s psychological development from birth through age 10 Written in an engaging, practical style, Ages and Stages offers you the benefits of the most current research on child development, featuring helpful tips and techniques to foster your child’s maturation. Charles Schaefer and Theresa Foy DiGeronimo tell you what behaviors you can expect as your child grows and how you can help him or her to advance to the next level of development. They include numerous examples, stories, and activities you can use immediately to positively influence your child’s development.

Your childhood memories are full of adventure and activities with friends, family, and neighbors, But in this technology-driven world, your children spend more time inside than out. If you’re trying to think of ways to make the outdoors fun again and introduce your children to the classic games you remember, The Family Fitness Fun Book is for you!

It’s time to spend that precious time with your family–all while having fun and getting fit. The Family Fitness Fun Book contains activities for all ages, and groups, in all kinds of weather, making sure your Saturdays (and every day) will always be active and exciting!

Bring back those fun-filled days, whether it is summer or winter, rainy or sunny! The Family Fitness Fun Book is designed to be simple and easy-to-use, featuring:

· A searchable chart to assist your selection of the perfect game for your school party or family picnic
· Helpful icons to help you find an appropriate activity for any size group of any age
· Chapters divided by weather, space, and environment conditions

Proud Parents’ Guide to Raising Athletic, Balanced, and Coordinated Kids: A Lifetime of Benefit in Just 10 Minutes a Day Winner of 34 different publishing awards, this 10-minutes-per-day comprehensive program helps children ages 0 to 6 develop coordination.

Tennis pro and master coach Karen Ronney offers a step-by-step handbook with over 200 games for parents who want to jump-start their child’s fundamental skills, self-confidence, and sports potential while creating a lifestyle of family fitness. She offers an in-depth explanation of a child’s development, their learning styles, with physical and brain anatomy and growth facts, and how simple, fun activities can be the key to unlock their abilities in every area of life. Includes recent scientific and academic research, progress charts, how to incorporate purposeful play, and even helps for families with special-needs kids.

Gymboree Series On Activities for Children We highly recommend this series for parents because the books provide numerous “how to do it” play activities to nurture (provide the scaffolding) child development. From babies to young children they cover cognitive, language, physical and social development. Not only will these activities stimulate development but build a strong parent and child relationship. Plus they are fun for both parents and kids.