Physical Play

Coordination is important to children’s overall development. Being able to tackle different kinds of equipment without feeling clumsy or awkward gives children greater self-confidence and a positive attitude about themselves. Being active helps children to develop healthy habits and supports their growing independence when undertaking skills such as dressing, feeding and other daily tasks. Developing relationships, nutrition, safe surroundings and self value are all interlinked to physical play.

By participating in Physical Play on a regular basis a child may develop:

• sustained concentration and focus
• social interactions such as turn taking and cooperation
• gross and fine motor skills
• an awareness of their body in space

Gross Motor Skills are the large body movements intended for stability and spatial awareness. Examples include balancing, walking, running, jumping, climbing and skipping.

Fine Motor Skills incorporate movements such as eye-hand coordination or eye-foot coordination. Examples include grasping, being able to do a pincer grip, throwing, kicking, pedalling, catching and scissor cutting.

Examples of Physical Play in everyday life include riding bikes (tricycles), ball games, parachute game, drawing, hopscotch, puzzles, weaving, collecting, packing, sweeping and cooking.

Developmental milestones related to Physical Play include crawling, walking and sitting up unaided.

You can view a range of physical play activities below: