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Hamp Nursery and Infant School Hamp Nursery and Infant School

Hamp Nursery and Infants School

Where every child matters

Physical Development

We focus on helping young children grow and strengthen their bodies, improving both fine and gross motor skills. It is an essential part of early childhood education, as physical development supports cognitive, social, and emotional growth as well. Our activities are designed to encourage children to move, explore, and develop their coordination and strength.

 

Here are the key areas of physical development in our nursery:

 

1. Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body, which are used for activities like walking, running, jumping, and climbing. These skills are crucial for a child’s physical development and general health.

  • Walking and Running: Nursery activities encourage children to move around freely, helping them master walking and running. This includes activities like circle games, free play, and outdoor exploration.
  • Jumping and Hopping: Physical activities such as jumping on soft mats or hopping in games help children develop their balance and coordination.
  • Climbing and Balancing: Play equipment, like slides, climbing frames, and balance beams, helps children build strength, balance, and spatial awareness.
  • Kicking and Throwing: Simple ball games, like kicking a ball or throwing it to a friend, help develop coordination and strengthen arm and leg muscles.

 

2. Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills involve the small muscles in the hands, fingers, and wrists, which are used for tasks like holding a pencil, turning pages in a book, or threading beads.

  • Hand-Eye Coordination: Activities such as drawing, coloring, building with blocks, or using scissors help children improve hand-eye coordination.
  • Manipulating Objects: Activities like stringing beads, completing puzzles, or stacking blocks also encourage children to refine their fine motor skills and precision.
  • Self-Care Tasks: Encouraging children to take care of basic personal tasks like dressing themselves, using utensils to eat, or brushing their teeth helps to improve their fine motor abilities.

 

3. Strength and Endurance

  • Building Muscle Strength: Physical activities such as lifting toys, pushing large objects, or playing with heavy balls help children develop muscle strength.
  • Endurance: Active play sessions, including running games, dancing, or playing tag, help children build stamina and improve their overall fitness.

 

4. Spatial Awareness

Spatial awareness involves understanding where the body is in space and how to move it relative to other objects and people.

  • Navigating Space: Children learn to move through space without bumping into things by participating in activities like obstacle courses or playing games that require avoiding objects.
  • Directional Movement: Activities such as following simple instructions (e.g., “jump to the left” or “turn around”) help children develop an understanding of direction and control over their movements.

 

5. Coordination and Balance

Physical activities that encourage coordination and balance help children gain control over their movements.

  • Dancing: Dancing to music or rhythm activities help children practice coordination and balance.
  • Balance Games: Simple balance games like walking along a line or using balance boards help develop stability.

 

6. Health and Hygiene

Physical development also includes learning about hygiene, self-care, and the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

  • Handwashing: Teaching children the importance of washing their hands regularly helps build good hygiene habits.
  • Healthy Habits: Children are encouraged to engage in physical activities that promote health and well-being, such as playing outside, eating healthy snacks, and getting enough rest.

 

7. Outdoor Play

Outdoor play is a crucial aspect of physical development in our nursery. It gives children the space to run, jump, explore, and engage in a variety of physical activities that help strengthen their muscles and coordination. 

 

8. Fine and Gross Motor Integration

Activities that combine fine and gross motor skills help children to integrate both types of movements.

  • Drawing and Moving: For example, activities where children use chalk to draw large shapes on the ground while jumping between shapes or following lines can integrate both hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills.

 

9. Safety and Risk Assessment

As children grow and explore, they are also introduced to the concept of safety during physical play.

  • Learning Boundaries: They are taught to understand and respect the boundaries of safe play while using playground equipment or moving around in the nursery.
  • Managing Risk: Activities also help children learn how to assess and manage risks, such as determining how high they can climb on a structure or how fast they can run safely.

 

Key Benefits of Physical Development in a Nursery:

  • Improved Health and Fitness: Regular physical activity helps children build strength, stamina, and overall physical health.
  • Cognitive Development: Physical play is linked to brain development. It helps children focus, improves memory, and supports learning in other areas.
  • Social Skills: Physical activities often involve group play, helping children develop social skills such as cooperation, turn-taking, and teamwork.
  • Confidence and Independence: As children master new physical skills, they build confidence in their abilities, which fosters a sense of independence.