{"id":257,"date":"2023-11-13T16:09:41","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T16:09:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/chapter\/11-1-physical-development-introduction\/"},"modified":"2025-06-22T20:10:08","modified_gmt":"2025-06-22T20:10:08","slug":"11-1-physical-development-introduction","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/chapter\/11-1-physical-development-introduction\/","title":{"raw":"11.1: Physical Development Introduction","rendered":"11.1: Physical Development Introduction"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"11.1:-physical-development-introduction\" style=\"text-align: center\">\r\n\r\nYoung children learn best by doing. Active physical play supports preschool children\u2019s brain development and is a primary means for them to explore and discover their world. Physical activities enhance all aspects of development, including cognitive, emotional, social, as well as physical.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left\">Cognitive growth occurs when children problem-solve how to negotiate an obstacle course or how to build a fort.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left\">Emotional development is supported when children\u2019s confidence and willingness to try new activities increase.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left\">Social development is supported through interaction with other children and the development of friendships through active play.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left\">Being active also has clear benefits for children\u2019s health and fitness.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/163\/2023\/11\/clipboard_e959bf4d9c0fa16d6d20aed16fa2dd1a9-300x248.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"248\" \/> Figure 11.1: These children learn to navigate obstacles by practicing on this play structure.[1][\/caption]<\/div>\r\n<div><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"11.1:-physical-development-introduction\" style=\"text-align: left\">\r\n<p class=\"indent\">The preschool years are a prime time for children\u2019s physical development. Preschool programs have a key role in maximizing children\u2019s developmental potential during this important time by providing well-designed, regular, and frequent opportunities for physical play. Although many of the young children\u2019s physical activities are exploratory and self-directed, children greatly benefit from adult encouragement and guidance when learning new physical skills. Teachers tap into children\u2019s intrinsic motivation for movement by designing meaningful, culturally appropriate, and accessible play activities in which all children feel challenged yet successful.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Teachers play an important role in the area of physical development. Children benefit immensely when teachers engage in physical activities alongside children and share in the fun of physical movement. Just as important, preschool programs collaborate with family and community members to promote children\u2019s physical development. Caregiver support and participation foster children\u2019s active lifestyle habits. Promoting active lifestyles during the preschool years will benefit children throughout their lives.[2]<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"11.1:-physical-development-introduction\" style=\"text-align: left\">\r\n<p class=\"lt-socialsci-39295\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif;font-size: 1.602em;font-weight: bold\">References<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"section_1\" class=\"mt-section\">\r\n<p class=\"lt-socialsci-39295\">[1]\u00a0Image\u00a0by the\u00a0California Department of Education\u00a0is used with permission<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"lt-socialsci-39295\">[2]\u00a0The California Preschool Curriculum Framework, Volume 2\u00a0by the\u00a0California Department of Education\u00a0is used with permission (pg. 132)<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<footer class=\"mt-content-footer\">\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"autoattribution-divider\" \/>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"autoattribution\">\r\n\r\nThis page titled\u00a011.1: Physical Development Introduction\u00a0is shared under a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CC BY\u00a0<\/a>license and was authored, remixed, and\/or curated by Erin Jones, EdS, ECSE, MBA.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/footer><\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"11.1:-physical-development-introduction\" style=\"text-align: center\">\n<p>Young children learn best by doing. Active physical play supports preschool children\u2019s brain development and is a primary means for them to explore and discover their world. Physical activities enhance all aspects of development, including cognitive, emotional, social, as well as physical.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\">Cognitive growth occurs when children problem-solve how to negotiate an obstacle course or how to build a fort.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\">Emotional development is supported when children\u2019s confidence and willingness to try new activities increase.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\">Social development is supported through interaction with other children and the development of friendships through active play.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\">Being active also has clear benefits for children\u2019s health and fitness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/163\/2023\/11\/clipboard_e959bf4d9c0fa16d6d20aed16fa2dd1a9-300x248.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"248\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 11.1: These children learn to navigate obstacles by practicing on this play structure.[1]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"11.1:-physical-development-introduction\" style=\"text-align: left\">\n<p class=\"indent\">The preschool years are a prime time for children\u2019s physical development. Preschool programs have a key role in maximizing children\u2019s developmental potential during this important time by providing well-designed, regular, and frequent opportunities for physical play. Although many of the young children\u2019s physical activities are exploratory and self-directed, children greatly benefit from adult encouragement and guidance when learning new physical skills. Teachers tap into children\u2019s intrinsic motivation for movement by designing meaningful, culturally appropriate, and accessible play activities in which all children feel challenged yet successful.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Teachers play an important role in the area of physical development. Children benefit immensely when teachers engage in physical activities alongside children and share in the fun of physical movement. Just as important, preschool programs collaborate with family and community members to promote children\u2019s physical development. Caregiver support and participation foster children\u2019s active lifestyle habits. Promoting active lifestyles during the preschool years will benefit children throughout their lives.[2]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"11.1:-physical-development-introduction\" style=\"text-align: left\">\n<p class=\"lt-socialsci-39295\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif;font-size: 1.602em;font-weight: bold\">References<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"section_1\" class=\"mt-section\">\n<p class=\"lt-socialsci-39295\">[1]\u00a0Image\u00a0by the\u00a0California Department of Education\u00a0is used with permission<\/p>\n<p class=\"lt-socialsci-39295\">[2]\u00a0The California Preschool Curriculum Framework, Volume 2\u00a0by the\u00a0California Department of Education\u00a0is used with permission (pg. 132)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<footer class=\"mt-content-footer\">\n<hr class=\"autoattribution-divider\" \/>\n<div class=\"autoattribution\">\n<p>This page titled\u00a011.1: Physical Development Introduction\u00a0is shared under a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CC BY\u00a0<\/a>license and was authored, remixed, and\/or curated by Erin Jones, EdS, ECSE, MBA.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":154,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[48],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-257","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-numberless"],"part":349,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/154"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=257"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/257\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1543,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/257\/revisions\/1543"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/349"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/257\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=257"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=257"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/accintroductiontoece\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}