Top advice on how to implement the EYFS ‘Prime’ area in your under two’s room
Physical Development is a prime area of development under the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). It is divided into two areas; Moving and Handling and Health and Self Care. It is important to ensure children’s physical development is fully supported and planned for. Physical movements are categorised under”gross motor” and “fine motor” skills, and children of all ages need to develop these.
Fine motor skills are small movements using the small muscles of the body such as fingers, toes, wrists, lips, and tongue. Gross motor skills are the bigger movements using the large muscles in the body such as arms, legs, torso, and feet.
Children aged under two need the opportunity to develop both fine and gross motor skills, which practitioners can find tricky to support. Here are some suggestions of activities that can support children under two in using both these skills;
Fine Motor Activities to support Physical Development
Play dough – Giving young children the opportunity to experience play dough will help them to strengthen the small muscles in their hands and fingers. Rolling, squeezing, twisting and building with the malleable materials will improve finger and hand control. Introducing tools such as cutters and rolling pins will extend the activity, widening the experience.
Posting and slotting toys – Children under two enjoy posting objects into slots or openings and filling containers. These activities also support their fine motor skills, using their fingers to grasp and release objects. Resources such as shape sorters can support this skills, or can be created using empty coffee and milk powder canisters. Practitioners can decorate canisters using brightly coloured wrapping paper and cut slots into the plastic lid. This activity will support hand eye co ordination alongside strengthening a child’s pincer grip.
Edible finger painting – This sensory led activity is a great experience for children under two. All that is needed is a range of colourful fruit and vegetables and some large paper. Blend the vegetables to a mushy consistency, adding food colouring to brighten it up if needed, then place on paint trays. The children will enjoy pushing their hands and fingers through the edible paint, and transferring it to the paper to make marks. Introducing tools such as paintbrushes and rollers will further develop the children’s grasp.
Gross Motor Activities to support Physical Development
Tummy time – Tummy time is important for children who are not yet mobile. Giving them the opportunity to stretch core muscles and strengthen their neck and back muscles that are needed to be able to crawl. Tummy time can be introduced soon after birth, and is best when baby is happy and alert. Using a blanket on the floor and lie the baby on their tummy. Placing toys around the blanket will encourage baby to reach out and keep them motivated.
Obstacle courses – For children who are mobile, obstacle courses are a great way to develop gross motor skills. Create lots of different levels using planks of wood, bamboo canes and pillows, giving children the opportunity to climb over, crawl under and through obstacles. This will support children to strengthen their core, improve their balance and stretch their muscles.
Parachute games – Children will enjoy exploring the parachute from many positions. Holding the parachutes edges and lifting it up and down will strengthen the child’s arms and core muscles; whereas moving or crawling under the parachute will support leg and shoulder muscles. Songs and rhymes can be introduced to extend a parachute activity, using fast and slow songs to determine the speed of the parachute movement.
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