Grade K • Physical Well-Being and Motor Development Overview

Grade K Physical Well-Being and Motor Development

Overview

Physical well-being and motor development are important aspects of a child’s overall development. Children build a foundation for healthy living as they grow and develop. Their future health and well-being is related to the development of their large and small muscle groups. Healthy development in this domain of learning can impact other areas of learning as well. For example, children use their fine motor skills to hold and manipulate pencils to write and scissors to cut. They may also use these skills to hold a magnifying glass in science or to work with manipulatives in math. Even gross motor skill development like running and skipping are related to other areas of learning. For example, children with well-developed gross motor skills may have increased confidence which impacts the social foundations domain. Likewise, those without these skill sets may have to exercise perseverance as they continue to grow and develop. It’s important for teachers to consider how domains of learning are interrelated. It's also important to know that participating in physical activity and making safe and healthy choices helps provide a solid foundation for children’s overall well-being.