Physical Development and Health

Personal Definition- Physical development and health refers to the growth of infants and toddlers bodies and their increasing ability to control and coordinate movement. This includes both gross motor skills (like crawling, walking, climbing) and fine motor skills (like grasping, stacking, and manipulating small objects). It also encompasses overall health, nutrition, self-care, and safety foundations necessary for active engagement in learning and daily routines. To support this KDI using materials such as, climbers and push and pull toys, play mats, doctor toys, kitchen toys, and baby toys. 

 

1.) Name of Activity:  Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle

 

Originating Idea: To get our bodies moving

 

Curriculum Area: Physical development and health- moving parts of the bottle: children move parts of body (turning head, grasping, kicking) #12

 

Materials: Radio for music, ribbons/flags, CD's, floor mats

Appropriate Age group: Toddlers (12-36 months)

 

Beginning of Activity: Talk about moving our bodies in a fun way

 

Middle of Activity

 

Early Extension: Encourage children to move one body part at a time

 

 

 

Middle: Add flags or ribbons and encourage children to wave them using arms or feet 

  

 

 

Later Extension: play a movement song and have children follow along (ex. penguin dance by Jack Hartman)

 

 

End of Activity: Talk about how our bodies feel after moving around

 

 

Follow-up Ideas (2): Read "stomp, wiggle, clap, and tap" by Rochelle Burk or freeze dance

 

2.) Name of Activity: Reach, grasp, and roll

 

Originating Idea: Learning how to move while holding, pushing and reaching for things

 

Curriculum Area: Physical Development and health- moving with objects- children move with objects #14

 

Materials: balls, rattles, rings, blanket, clear bin, toys

Appropriate Age group: Infants (6-12 months)

 

Beginning of Activity: Gently shake or roll toy nearby to get babies attention and encourage reaching 

 

Middle of Activity

 

Early Extension: Place toy within a close reach of baby and encourage baby to stretch their arms or open their hands to touch/grab the toy 

 

 

 

Middle: Roll a ball and baby will follow and crawl to grab the ball

  

 

 

Later Extension: Baby will grab the toy and crawl or scoot with toy in hand

 

 

End of Activity: Sit with the baby while holding the toy they interacted with

 

 

Follow-up Ideas (2): Tug and pull toys, push and crawl toys, grab the toy from the basket

 

 

3.) Name of Activity: Move to the beat

 

Originating Idea: Children love to dance

 

Curriculum Area: Physical development and Health- steady beat- Children feel and experience steady beat #15

 

Materials: Shakers, drums, bean bags, tambourines, 

Appropriate Age group: Toddlers (12-36 months)

 

Beginning of Activity: During circle time tell children to listen to music to feel the beat

 

Middle of Activity

 

Early Extension: Clap to the beat of a slow song

 

 

 

Middle: Children have instruments while playing to the beat

  

 

 

Later Extension: Toddlers stomp or march around to a strong beat

 

 

End of Activity: Slowly stop the music and transition

 

 

Follow-up Ideas (2): Read a book with rhythms or march to "We are the Dinosaurs" by The Laurie Berkner Band