Play and it’s benefits on Physical Development
Play and its benefits on PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
As we have learnt before, physical development includes the increase in size of the body as children grow and mature. It also includes increase in muscle strength and size and in ossification, lengthening and strengthening of bones. Physical development also includes the gradual development of control of the body. As children grow and mature they develop physical skills such as bladder and bowel control and gross and fine motor skills.
Gross motor skills are those developed by the large muscles that control the spine and neck, arms, hands, feet and legs.
Fine motor skills relate to the development of the manipulative skills of the fingers and/or toes.
Observe the two tables below. What do you make out of it? What correlation do you see with the age and kind of the activity of the child?
| TABLE 1 | |
| Age | Activity by the child |
| Birth – 18 months | head control, sits unsupported, crawls, pulls to stand |
| 18 – 24 months | cruises around furniture, walks, climbs onto furniture |
| 2-3 years | walks, runs, climbs stairs one foot to a step |
| 3-5 years | jumps, hops, walks backwards, rides tricycle |
| 5-8 years | throws and catches a ball, skipping, rides a bicycle with stabilizers |
| TABLE 2 | |
| Age | Activity by the child |
| Birth – 18 months | reaches for object, palmar grasp, pincer grip |
| 18 – 24 months | builds 4-6 block tower, holds and lifts cup, turns book pages |
| 2-3 years | strings large beads, scribbles, starts to use scissors |
| 3-5 years | draws recognizable figures, buttons front of clothes, brushes teeth |
| 5-8 years | detailed drawings, uses scissors competently, prints sentences |
The table 1 displays the details of the age of the child and the gross motor activity the child performed at that age.
The table 2 displays the details of the age of the child and the fine motor activity the child performed at that age.
The examples given are to do with play and how it directly ties with the physical development of a child. By simply jumping, hopping, picking up objects, turning pages of a book all leads to physical development in a child.