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Physical Development At Home

Promoting Physical Development at Home

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Physical development helps children build strength, coordination, balance, confidence, and healthy habits for life. Active play also supports language, social skills, emotional wellbeing, and brain development.

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Why Being Active Is Important

Research shows that regular movement and active play helps children to:

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  • Develop strong muscles, bones, and coordination

  • Improve balance and core strength

  • Support healthy growth and sleep

  • Build concentration and readiness for learning

  • Develop confidence, resilience, and independence

  • Support speech and language through interactive play

  • Improve mental wellbeing and reduce stress

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The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend that young children should be physically active every day through a variety of play and movement experiences.

 

Active play is especially important in the early years because children learn best through movement, exploration, and hands-on experiences.

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Useful guidance:

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Indoor Physical Development Ideas

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Gross Motor Skills (large body movements)

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Obstacle Courses

Use cushions, tunnels, masking tape lines, boxes, or chairs to:

  • Crawl under

  • Jump over

  • Balance along lines

  • Climb safely

  • Roll or hop

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Dance and Movement

  • Freeze dance

  • Action songs

  • Follow-the-leader games

  • Move like animals

  • Yoga for children

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Ball Skills

  • Rolling

  • Throwing into baskets

  • Catching scarves or balloons

  • Kicking soft balls

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Building Core Strength

  • Bear walks

  • Crab walks

  • Wheelbarrow walks

  • Pillow pushing games

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Fine Motor Skills (small hand movements)

 

Playdough Activities

  • Rolling

  • Squeezing

  • Pinching

  • Cutting with child-safe tools

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Creative Activities

  • Drawing and painting

  • Stickers

  • Threading pasta

  • Peg games

  • Cutting and sticking

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Everyday Jobs

  • Pouring water

  • Using spoons

  • Helping cook

  • Opening containers

  • Dressing independently

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Outdoor Physical Development Ideas

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Exploring Nature

  • Nature walks

  • Collecting leaves or sticks

  • Jumping in puddles

  • Hill rolling

  • Treasure hunts

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Active Garden or Park Play

  • Running races

  • Ball games

  • Chalk obstacle paths

  • Skipping

  • Hula hoops

  • Ride-on toys or bikes

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Climbing and Balancing

  • Playground climbing frames

  • Tree stump balancing

  • Walking on curbs safely

  • Stepping stones

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Water and Sand Play

  • Carrying buckets

  • Digging

  • Pouring and scooping

  • Building and transporting materials

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Simple Everyday Movement Ideas

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Children do not always need organised activities. Physical development grows through everyday movement.

 

Try:

  • Walking to nursery or shops

  • Dancing while tidying up

  • Helping carry shopping

  • Gardening together

  • Playing chase

  • Tidying toys into baskets

  • Singing action rhymes

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Nursery Rhymes and Movement

Action songs support both physical and language development.

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Examples include:

  • Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

  • If You're Happy and You Know It

  • The Wheels on the Bus

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These encourage:

  • Coordination

  • Listening skills

  • Body awareness

  • Rhythm and memory

  • Following instructions

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Top Tips for Supporting Physical Development

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  • Allow plenty of time for active play every day

  • Follow your child’s interests

  • Encourage, rather than direct, play

  • Celebrate effort and perseverance

  • Limit long periods of sitting

  • Make movement fun and playful

  • Join in together whenever possible

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Useful Websites for Families

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