As a parent, you are concerned with your child’s development.  One part of their development that is key to their progress in the future is giving them opportunities and support to develop their large muscles and sense through physical play.  Physical play is important for children of all ages.  At a young age it is up to you, the parent, to help them in their motor skills development. 

Physical play includes activities such as running, jumping, throwing, and climbing.  It is through this type of play that your child begins to learn how their body works and move.  Physical play will help your child develop muscle strength and endurance, improve their coordination skills, build up endurance in their cardio and respiratory systems, sharpen their large and fine motor skills, learn teamwork and cooperation, and increase body awareness.  In young children, physical play is also important in the child’s development of self-concept.  Energetic physical play can be a form of stress release for all children.

There are many tips that you can follow to promote physical play with your child.  Make sure to give your child opportunities for physical play on a daily basis.  When setting up an outdoor play area, include various type of play equipment that give then the opportunity to work on all type of motor skills.  Become an advocate for outdoor play.  If your child is in a child care setting, find out what their policy is on outdoor play and insist that it be part of the daily schedule, when appropriate.  Take the time to learn activities that will foster the development of your child’s motor skills.  When selecting a preschool or child care center, choose one that gives an ample amount of time for free play and that limits the amount of television children watch while in their care.  Preschools and child care facilities should also have a variation of quiet and active play activities for the children.  If you do not have room in your home for physical play, make the effort to take your child somewhere that there is enough room, such as the park.  Just as child care facilities should limit their time entertaining children with TV, you should encourage your child to do physical activities instead of sitting in front of the TV.  Also as you probably already know, girls and boys have gender differences when they play, accept and support those differences in play behavior.

Try to have activities available to your child that will help foster all of their motor skills.  You child is a ball of energy; put it to use for their benefit.  Taking the time to support your child’s physical development will not only help them develop skills, but will get them started on a road to an active and healthy lifestyle for their future. 

Source: Physical Play – Dept of Community Development, Government of Western Australia; Play and Child Development (2005) by Joe L. Frost, Sue C. Wortham & Stuart Reifel