ATHLETICS

Athletics



Athletics

Overview

Physical development depends on healthy bones and body tissues, immune system and fine-motor skills. Activities that support physical development help the child build strong bones and muscles for a full range of musculoskeletal movements. These activities also help the child learn to feed, clean and dress herself. Activities that support physical development help the child build healthy habits and learn how to identify and deal with dangerous situations.

Muscle Control

The child's physical development includes healthy muscular control and musculoskeletal coordination. Activities that involve running, jumping, climbing, and, balancing support muscular control. Jumping rope games are appropriate for 3- to 4-year-old children. These activities help develop balance and build strong muscles, for example, rolling a ball to the -year-old daughter for her to catch. Pulling and pushing a favorite toy around also provides a suitable muscular control activity for the 1-year-old child. Muscular control activities for older children include running, jumping and climbing outdoors. For running activity, very goof amount of muscle control is required because of high level of energy exerted in this activity. This is the reason why muscle control is an an important factor in this regard (Edwards, 1973).

Hand-Eye Coordination

Hand-eye coordination is part of the child's physical development. Activities that support hand-eye coordination include activities that require fine-motor control. Art activities, like coloring, painting and drawing with sidewalk chalk, encourage the development of refined motor skills. Block-stacking and filling containers support hand-eye coordination in the 1-year-old child. Older children can develop hand-eye coordination by playing Pat-a-Cake or by playing with measuring toys in a sandbox. Playing dough and activates that involve playing with toy tools also support hand-eye coordination for children that are 2 years or older. Children need to practice running from an early age in order to practice this activity well in the future. This ...