What is it?
Physical development is more than just checking the height chart once in a while. It allows babies to interact and explore with people and objects around them!
Although all babies grow in the same order, each baby grows at a different rate. One eight-month-old might be crawling around and chattering, while another might be playing quietly. One five-year-old may look like a four-year-old, while another may look like a seven-year-old.
There are five developmental achievements, or 'milestones'.
1. Gross motor skills - Coordination and control of large muscles and skills, for example, walking, running, and jumping, usually involving the use of the whole body.
2. Fine motor skills - Coordination and control of small muscles and skills, for example, holding a pacifier.
3. Vision - Ability to see near and far.
4. Hearing - Ability to hear, listen and interpret certain sounds.
5. Emotional and social behavior - Child's ability to learn and interact with others.
What to expect . . .
By 6 months - Showing basic distinctions in hearing, vision, tasting, smelling, and touching. Rolling over and picking up heading when laying on stomach.
By 12 months - Able to control torso and hands, sit without any support, and is gaining control of legs and feet at this time.
By 18 months - Possibly walking, crawling up stairs, scribbling and drawing lines on paper. Physical independence is being revealed.
By age 2 - Able to run, go up and down stairs, use spoon or fork, sit on chair without help, kick a ball, and turn pages in a book.
By age 3 - Able to ride a tricycle, feed him/herself, put on shoes and socks.
By age 4 - Wash face, cut with scissors, button and unbutton.
By age 5 - Dress without help, ride a scooter, write letters. Establish whether he/she is right or left handed.
By age 7 - Able to stand on one foot with eyes closed, ride bicycle without training wheels, and jump rope.
By age 9 - Capable of rolling, bouncing, kicking and throwing a ball. Strength and coordination continues to develop.
By age 12 - Puberty can hit at this age. Growth spurts cause clumsiness and lack of coordination.
How to encourage optimal physical development:
Have children participate in at least 60 minutes of intense physical activity every day and avoid children from sitting in front of the television or electronic media, especially during the day.
This may come off as a difficult task with working parents and technology that has taken over the world, but encouraging physical activity in young children has its advantages. It helps:
Build strong bones and muscles.
Improve balance.
Maintain healthy weight.
Help relaxation.
Improve self-esteem.