Child Development
...Therefore, it is important that we take every step necessary to ensure that children grow up in environments where their social, emotional and educational needs are met.
Costs to society of less than optimal development are enormous and far-reaching. Children who grow up in environments where their developmental needs are not met are at an increased risk for compromised health and safety, and learning and developmental delays. Failure to invest time and resources during children’s early years may have long term effects on the foster care, health care, and education systems. Therefore, it is in the public's interest to ensure that children develop in safe, loving, and secure environments.
• PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Motor Skills
Motor skills are a vital part of the young child’s development and are crucial to the learning skills he/she will need in the future. The preschool child learns with his/her body. These motor skills are not to be overlooked in favor of cognitive skills.
Gross Motor
Body coordination, as appropriate to the child’s physical development, is enhanced through large muscle activities of walking, running, jumping, hopping and skipping. Arm-eye coordination is attained by throwing a large ball or beanbag, catching, or aiming at a target. Rhythm and movement provide an outlet or creative expression and the joy of using the body in dance, games and organized play.
Fine Motor
Eye-hand coordination is developed through manipulating clay, stringing beads, hammering, pasting, painting, pouring, lacing, and using crayons and scissors. Dexterity and strength of the small muscles are developing skills that enhance reading readiness. Use of the natural hand preference is observed and encouraged, although hand dominance is not achieved yet. Eye tracking is another fine motor activity that promotes the left-to-right...
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