Foundation Stage

Physical Development

The physical development of babies and young children is inseparable from all other aspects of development because they learn through being active and interactive. They use all their senses to learn about the world around them and make connections between new information and what they already know. Physical development is about improving skills of coordination, control, manipulation and movement.

Physical development has two other very important aspects. It helps children gain confidence in what they can do and enables them to feel the positive benefits of being healthy and active. Effective physical development helps children develop a positive sense of wellbeing.

To give all children the best opportunities for effective physical development, practitioners should give particular attention to:

• planning activities that offer appropriate physical challenges;
• providing sufficient space, indoors and outdoors, to set up relevant activities;
• giving sufficient time for children to use a range of equipment and to persist and learn from their mistakes;
• providing resources that can be used in a variety of ways or to support specific skills;
• introducing the language of movement to children, alongside their actions;
• providing time and opportunities for children with physical disabilities or motor impairments to develop their physical skills, working as necessary with physiotherapists and occupational therapists;
• using additional adult help, if necessary, to support individuals and to encourage increased independence in physical activities.