CHAPTER “Play gives children a chance to

1
practice what they are learning.”

~ Fred Rogers

Movement and
Physical Intelligent
For Young Children.
Subtopics:-
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Definition of Physical Movement
1.2 Advantages of Physical education
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1.0 Introduction

One of the most serious public health problems worldwide is the tendency of the population
to be overweight and obese, which has significantly increased in recent decades. The
school and educational administrations cannot ignore this situation, and the reality of most
public-school systems is that there is insufficient time spent practicing structured physical
activity. One of the ways to improve the levels of physical activity in schoolchildren is,
without a doubt, to promote physical activity for students during the school day. An active
commuting to school, active breaks, physical education sessions and during school recess.
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In this chapter, educational centers and those responsible for promoting healthy physical
activity are presented with the necessary considerations.

1.1 What is Physical Movement.

Physical Education and movement-based initiatives are vital in supporting movement

opportunities in children. These initiatives are essential because mastery of movement skills
(e.g., stability, object manipulation, and locomotion) is needed for children to engage in a
healthy and active lifestyle that includes participating in physical activity. It is also well
documented that mastery in movement skills and engagement in these behaviors
contribute to children's growth and development for example, social, cognitive, mental,
and physical. Despite the importance of movement skills and the numerous benefits, many
children are currently not engaged in behaviors that promote movement skills. Well-
designed physical education programs are recommended for early childhood learners
because young children form healthy habits early in life. Educators can teach children
about the importance of movement, physical activity, and fitness during this impressionable
age. Also, the early childhood years are the opportune time for acquiring fundamental
movement skills. During this unique period, children build the basic movement abilities that
are the foundation for learning more complex movement skills later in life.

Indeed, throughout childhood, the development of motor skills such as both fine and gross
in children is a rather decisive factor. Also, equally relevant are those other aspects linked
to knowledge and self-control of the body. In this regard, numerous studies indicate that
the acquisition of motor skills during early childhood determines the subjective perception
of such abilities by children. Such a skilful aspect implies greater participation in physical
activities which concurrently and boosts the level of physical condition and body
composition during early childhood. In this regard, the mastery and progress of the corporal
schemas constitute elements of vital relevance for the development and improvement of
individuals. To this end, the role of early childhood education teachers implies them having
extensive knowledge on the domain and control of postural adjustments and readjustments
in ways that children get joyfully engaged because planned activities are of their interest

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1.2 The physical education for young children.

Physical education is a general education course of study from kindergarten through grade
12 in which students participate in physical activities. The purpose of physical education is
to introduce children to the basic elements of exercise and to help them develop a healthy
lifestyle. Children can exercise their bodies and improve their mental sports ability by playing
basketball, football and other traditional sports, and taking part in weight-lifting, calisthenics
and other physical exercise activities. Physical education is the teaching and guidance of
physical activities in a school gymnasium or other school environment. The goal is to
improve and maintain the current health status of children and put them on the path of
maintaining a healthy lifestyle for life.

According to Harry Crowe Buck, “Physical education is a part of general education

programme, which is considered with growth, development and education of children
through the medium of big muscle activities. It is the education of whole child by means of
physical activities. Physical activities are the tools. They are so selected and conducted as
to influence every child’s life physically, mentally, emotionally and morally”.

There are two major of physical fitness that must co-exists in physical education, which are:

a) Health related

For health related, there are 5 components of fitness. For health related, there are 5
components of fitness

I) Cardiovascular endurance.

The ability of the heart and lungs to work together to provide the oxygen and fuel the body
needs during a continuous working load.

ii) Muscular Strength

The power that a muscle can produce.

iii) Muscular Endurances

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The ability of muscles to work continuously without fatigue.

iv) Flexibility

The ability of each joint to move within the range of motion of a particular joint

v) Body Composition

Refers to the ratio of fat to muscles, bones, and organs.

b) Skills Related

For skill related, there are 6 components of fitness

I) Agility

Refers to a person’s ability to move his or her body quickly and easily.

II) Balance

Refers to a person’s ability to maintain balance while moving or standing still.

iii) Coordination

Refers to the ability of a person to use your senses and different parts of your body to
perform motor tasks accurately and smoothly.

IV) Power

Refers to a person’s ability to quickly convert energy into power.

V) Speed

The ability to move quickly from one point to another.

vi) Reaction Time

A skill-related component of physical health that relates to the time between one of your
sensory recognition stimuli and your body’s response.

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1.3 The advantages of physical education for young children.

Physical education is important for healthy growth and development. Nowadays, many
children eat unhealthy food. These may include soft drinks, burgers, French fries, and pizza.
Taking these regularly can lead to childhood obesity. The advantages of physical
education such as :
a) Physical education in schools can help prevent obesity and high blood pressure.
b) Physical exercise and activity will help them burn off excess calories. If these calories are
not burned off, they are stored as fat
c) physical exercise, people can make use of extra calories to gain energy
d) physical education can also enhance bone movement
e) Physical activities make students energetic and strong, and stimulate their interest in
classroom activities.
f) muscle-strengthening exercises can make muscles bigger and stronger, they can also
help children carry loads and protect their joints from injury
g) Physical education improves an individual’s ability to concentrate and maintain
attention
h) Physical activity helps enlarge the basal ganglia of the brain.

1.4 The benefits of physical education.

a) Physical activity is vital for children’s health, wellbeing and development, now and in the
future.

Physical activity has many health benefits for children. It:

 strengthens children’s bones, muscles, hearts and lungs

 improves children’s coordination, balance, posture and flexibility
 helps children maintain a healthy weight
 boosts children’s immune systems
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  reduces the risk of children developing high blood pressure, type-2
diabetes, anxiety and depression.

b) Australian guidelines say that children aged under one year should have plenty of floor
play. For babies who aren’t up and about, 30 minutes of tummy time each day is good.

Children aged 1 year up to 3 years should have at least 3 hours of energetic play each day.

Children aged 3 years up to 5 years should be physically active for at least 3 hours each
day. This includes one hour of energetic play.

Children aged 5 years up to 18 years should do at least one hour of moderate to vigorous
physical activity plus several hours of light physical activity each day. And at least 3 days a
week, this should include vigorous activities and activities that strengthen muscles and
bones.

Young people aged over 18 years should do 2½-5 hours of moderate physical activity or
1¼-2½ hours of vigorous physical activity per week, or a combination of moderate and
vigorous physical activity that adds up to enough activity overall. And at least 2 days a
week, they should do activities that strengthen muscles.

Physical movement also boosts children’s wellbeing. For example, active children are more
likely to:

 be confident, have healthy self-esteem and feel like they belong

 be relaxed and sleep well
 concentrate better at school
 get along with others and make friends easily
 share, take turns and cooperate.

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1.5 The Differences and similarities between physical education and sports.

Physical education aims at developing and learning fundamental key skills like walking,
running, and catching. Jumping to keep one fit. Meanwhile, Sport is a more intense form of
exercise, which is played at a competitive level, where pressure and demand are at a
higher level.

Figure 1.1: Difference between physical education and sport

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 1.6 The Signs of Impaired Physical Development - Infants & Toddlers

By 2 months • Does not respond or startle to loud noises

• Does not visually track the movement of objects
• Does not smile at others
• Cannot lift head up while on tummy

By 3 months • Does not notice hands

• Cannot support or hold head well
• Does not smile at people
• Does not follow movement by turning head

By 4 months • Does not coo or make sounds

• Does not bring objects to mouth
• Does not occasionally push down with legs when
feet placed on a firm surface
• Has trouble moving eye or eyes in all directions
• Crosses eyes most of the time (occasional crossing
of eyes normal in early months)
• Does not pay attention to faces, or seems very
frightened by new faces or environment
• Difficulty sucking
• Does not show interest in toys in front of them

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 By 6 months • Not gaining weight or growing in length
• Not responding to sounds and voices
• Does not bring objects to mouth
• Does not roll over from front to back
• Stiff limbs (arms, legs) with tight muscles
• Weak limbs (arms, legs) or body feels floppy like a
rag doll
• Not using hands to grasp or hold objects
• Does not attempt to reach for objects
• Shows no affection for caregivers
• Does not make vowel sounds like “ah,” “eh,” and
“oh”

By 9 months • Does not bear weight on legs with support

• Does not sit with help
• Does not babble
• Does not respond to own name
• Does not seem to recognize familiar people
• Does not transfer toys from one hand to the other
• Loses skills once had

By 12 • Cannot stand with help

months • Does not search for things you hide
• Does not say single words like “dada” or “mama”,
and does not imitate your sounds

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 By 15 • Does not imitate gestures like waving hands,
months clapping, or shaking head
• Not pointing to communicate needs or ideas
• Not crawling or sitting on own
• Not picking up small objects
• Loses skills once had
• Does play social games such as “pat-a-cake"
• Does not say “mama” or “dada” when asking for
a parent
• Unable to self-feed some foods
• Does not look for hidden objects
• Loses skills once had

By 18 • Cannot walk
months • Does not know what familiar things are used for
(brush, spoon, cup)
• Not imitating sounds or gestures
• Not playing with toys
• Not self-feeding
• Does not have at least three words and does not
learn new words
• Loses skills once had
• Does not seem to mind when caregiver leaves or
comes back

By 24 • Not physically active

months • Not scribbling or stacking blocks
• Not showing interest in playing with toys
• Extra sensitive to or avoids a variety of textures
• Does not walk without holding on for support
• Does not use 2-word phrases (for example, “drink
milk”)
• Does not follow simple instructions
• Loses skills once had

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 By 30 • Does not show interest in other children
months • Does not use simple gestures
• Unable to use a spoon to eat
• Unable to problem-solve simple tasks such as
opening a door
• Is not physically active
• Lose skills once had

By 36 • Clumsy or inactive
months • Not feeding self
• Not helping dress or undress self
• Not interested in playing with other children or a
variety of toys
• Drools or has very unclear speech
• Does not speak in sentences
• Does not make eye contact
• Does not play pretend or make-believe
• Loses skills once had

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 EXERCISE:

1. In your own word, define physical movement?.

2. Briefly explain the physical education for young children.

3. Explain 5 (five) physical movement can improve children well-being.

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