Toddlers and Physical Motor Development

Physical development in early childhood includes both physical growth as well as motor skills development. It is important to keep a close watch on the physical development of a child. Read on to learn how you can help your toddler have proper physical development.Just like any other toddler, your child must also be full of energy having an irresistible desire to move around freely. Every toddler wants to explore her environment on her own. Much before your toddler starts walking; she roams about in and outside the house while crawling. The rate at which your child can progress might vary depending on various factors.However, you can do a lot to help your child develop physical and motor skills. The infants and toddlers make use of their body muscles a lot and they are highly motivated as well. There are some strategies that can help you support motor development of your child. In this articleGross Motor skillsFine Motor SkillsHearingVisionEmotional and Social BehaviourWhat You Should Know?Improved Motor SkillsNeed for IndependenceSelf FeedingAreas of Physical and Motor Development in ToddlersHave a quick look at the common development in toddlers. Gross Motor skillsThese involve mainly coordination and control of large muscles. The activities that help develop these skills are walking, running, jumping and sitting.Fine Motor SkillsThis type of development involves engagement of coordination and control of small muscles. This includes holding a small object, picking up crumbs, scribbling or coloring with pencils.HearingThis includes the ability to listen and interpret sounds and words. This helps develop understanding in children.VisionThis is the ability to see everything near and far off. This also includes interpreting what is seen.Emotional and Social BehaviourThis skill will help your child to interact with other children and includes skills of play and communication with other people and children.What You Should Know?Physical development, in simple words, is the ability that helps children explores the world around them. The development starts within a short period of time after birth and it gets faster as soon as the child gains strength in her muscles and they gain coordination gradually. This is where parents can help children.Physical development covers varieties of activities and tasks. Here we are talking about the development that refers to physical growth or growth in making a child capable of using her body and physical skills. However, size of the child at birth, genetics, body build, nutrition and culture all affect a child’s physical development.Achievement of Developmental Milestones in ToddlersLet us take a look at the developmental milestones in toddlers.Improved Motor SkillsDuring toddler years development in gross and fine motor skills is seen. Walking, one of the most significant and obvious development is seen in children between 12 to 15 months of age. Once the child starts walking, she will soon develop skills of running, jumping, hopping and even riding a tricycle during toddler years. If you spend some time and help your child develop her fine motor skills, she will start scribbling, colouring, using a spoon and drinking water with her own hands by holding a cup.Need for IndependenceToddlers want to do things on their own. Some of the children get determined to do certain things without anyone’s help. However, they do have the desire but lack the skills to do things independently. You can help your child develop these skills and motivate them to do things even if they fail at times.Self FeedingAllowing your toddler to eat meals without assistance of any adult will also help her develop certain skills. Self feeding is very important for different reasons. It can be messy, but you have to handle these hassles if you want to teach your child and help her in her proper and fast development.One of the most important things that you should keep in mind is that children are different and attain physical development at different times.What are different milestones achieved by a child during toddler years? Should there be a concern if there is a delay in a milestone? How can parents help in physical development of a toddler? Discuss here.

Just like any other toddler, your child must also be full of energy having an irresistible desire to move around freely. Every toddler wants to explore her environment on her own. Much before your toddler starts walking; she roams about in and outside the house while crawling. The rate at which your child can progress might vary depending on various factors.

However, you can do a lot to help your child develop physical and motor skills. The infants and toddlers make use of their body muscles a lot and they are highly motivated as well. There are some strategies that can help you support motor development of your child.

Areas of Physical and Motor Development in Toddlers

Have a quick look at the common development in toddlers.

Gross Motor skills

These involve mainly coordination and control of large muscles. The activities that help develop these skills are walking, running, jumping and sitting.

Fine Motor Skills

This type of development involves engagement of coordination and control of small muscles. This includes holding a small object, picking up crumbs, scribbling or coloring with pencils.

Hearing

This includes the ability to listen and interpret sounds and words. This helps develop understanding in children.

Vision

This is the ability to see everything near and far off. This also includes interpreting what is seen.

Emotional and Social Behaviour

This skill will help your child to interact with other children and includes skills of play and communication with other people and children.

What You Should Know?

Physical development, in simple words, is the ability that helps children explores the world around them. The development starts within a short period of time after birth and it gets faster as soon as the child gains strength in her muscles and they gain coordination gradually. This is where parents can help children.

Physical development covers varieties of activities and tasks. Here we are talking about the development that refers to physical growth or growth in making a child capable of using her body and physical skills. However, size of the child at birth, genetics, body build, nutrition and culture all affect a child’s physical development.

Achievement of Developmental Milestones in Toddlers

Let us take a look at the developmental milestones in toddlers.

Improved Motor Skills

During toddler years development in gross and fine motor skills is seen. Walking, one of the most significant and obvious development is seen in children between 12 to 15 months of age. Once the child starts walking, she will soon develop skills of running, jumping, hopping and even riding a tricycle during toddler years. If you spend some time and help your child develop her fine motor skills, she will start scribbling, colouring, using a spoon and drinking water with her own hands by holding a cup.

Need for Independence

Toddlers want to do things on their own. Some of the children get determined to do certain things without anyone’s help. However, they do have the desire but lack the skills to do things independently. You can help your child develop these skills and motivate them to do things even if they fail at times.

Self Feeding

Allowing your toddler to eat meals without assistance of any adult will also help her develop certain skills. Self feeding is very important for different reasons. It can be messy, but you have to handle these hassles if you want to teach your child and help her in her proper and fast development.

One of the most important things that you should keep in mind is that children are different and attain physical development at different times.

What are different milestones achieved by a child during toddler years? Should there be a concern if there is a delay in a milestone? How can parents help in physical development of a toddler? Discuss here.