Promoting Physical Development and Safety in Children's Centers

Promoting the Development of the Physical Self (Ch. 8)

Promotion of Health and Safety in the Childrens Center Providing safe transportation to school is a must! safety seats and seat belts Children ride in rear-facing car seats until the age of 2 Children should not use adult seat belts until they are 4 feet 9 inches Children must buckled up

` Basic ways to protect and foster the physical health of children: Immunizations are required about 2 million children worldwide under age 5 years still die every year from six vaccine-preventable illnesses: diphtheria, measles, pertussis, polio, tuberculosis and tetanus Unvaccinated children on the rise Vaccinations for adults rubella (3-day measles) vaccination before pregnancy, annual flue shots for adults and children

Physical examinations should be required before the child enrolls Help families find health care contact public health nurses in the community The teacher should act as a health screener What to do when a child become ill at school Health precautions - washing hands, not sharing food ,

Sanitize the center- toys, tables Promote tooth brushing Medicine at school Maintaining the physical safety of children Insurance- protects against lawsuits and provide accident coverage for the children. Safety checks Dangers keep bug sprays, bleach away from the children's reach

Basic Principles of Physical Development Physical growth moves from head to tail that is cephalocaudal principal children control their head and shoulders then down wards Proximodistal physical control from the center of the body outward (control of the shoulders and arms then hands and fingers)

Developing Large and Fine Motor Skills Large motor skills balance, body coordination and flexibility Fine motor skills finger speed, arm steadiness, eye- hand coordination Fostering large-muscle development Use of apparatus Role of the teacher in fostering large-muscle play Provide plenty of opportunity for outdoor play Support children s play Fostering play in children with special needs

Planning for Specific Perceptual- Motor Activities to Enhance Physical Development Locomotion: rolling, crawling, climbing, jumping, running Balance: on tiptoes and one foot. Using balancing beam, walking on stones Body and space perception: dancing, using different body parts to move Rebound and airborne activities: bouncing, swinging, hanging

Projectile management: using balls or other objects to throw, kick, strike and bounce Management of daily motor activities: self-help skills (buttoning, zippering, tying) Tension releasers: guided relaxation, deep breathing

Fostering Fine-Muscle Development Feeding oneself Buttoning Working with peg boards Puzzles Stringing beads Cutting Connect and pull apart

Using movement exploration: Dancing for self-expression Sensory experience: Water play Sand and mud Textile materials Rice, flour, cornstarch