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Child Development: Your guide to the first five years: part 5 - Physical development

Early years practitioners need to appreciate how the interrelated processes of physical development in a child's body support their growing sense of mental and emotional well-being, says Maria Robinson.

So far, this series has examined emotions and relationships, together with information about the brain and the links between them. Here, I will share some thoughts about bodily development.

This topic embraces the four principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Understanding children's strengths and also their areas of difficulty reinforces the uniqueness of each child.

Our attitudes towards their physical well-being will support the principle of Positive Relationships. Considering how best to support their growth and development will enhance our thinking about an Enabling Environment, and all these will influence their learning.

When we consider physical development, we often tend to think about it in terms of a child's gross and fine motor development, although we may also notice how their bodies are growing.

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