Newborn Growth and Development

• Physical activity breaks up monotony in class and gets children excited, and should be a part of a child's day
• Consistent exercise has physical, social, and emotional benefits for children
• A lack of physical activity can lead to physical health problems and negative effects on one’s mental and social well-being

Physical Growth and Development

• Types of growth include physical (height, weight, head and chest circumference) and physiological (vital signs)
• Types of development include motor, cognitive, emotional, and social

Stages of Growth: Newborn

• Weight is between 2.7 - 4 kg
• There is a 5-10% weight loss 3-4 days after birth
• Weight gain occurs by the 10th day of life
• Gain ¾ kg by the end of the 1st month
• Average height for boys is 50 cm and for girls, 49cm
• The normal height range is 47.5-53.75cm
• Head circumference is 33-35cm
• The head is ¼ of total body length
• Skulls have 2 fontanels (anterior and posterior)

Newborn Senses

• Touch makes them usually comfortable with touch at the lips, tongue, ears, and forehead
• Vision has pupils reacting to light, however bright lights appear to be unpleasant
• Vision allows them to follow objects in their line of sight
• Hearing has them hearing ordinary sounds well before 10 days of life
• Taste is well developed as bitter and sour fluids are resisted while sweet fluids are accepted by them
• Smell has them searching for the nipple, since they can smell breast milk

Stages Growth: Infants

• Length increases about 3 cm/month during the 1st 3 months of age, then it increases 2cm/month between 4-6 months, and finally it increases 1 ½ cm per month between 7 – 12 months
• The infant will double their birth weight by 4-5 months, and triple it by 10-12 months of age

Infant Development: Motor Skills

• At 2 months, an infant can hold head erects in mid-position and turn from side to back
• At 3 months, an infant can hold their head erect and steady as well as open/close hands loosely
• At 4 Months, an infants can sit with adequate support by rolling over from front to back
• This also includes them holding head erect and steady in a seated position along with bringing hands together in midline and playing with fingers with the ability to grasp objects with both hands
• At 5 Month, an infant can balance their head well when sitting, sit with slight support, pull feet up to mouth when supine, grasp objects with whole hand (Rt. or Lt.) and hold one object while looking at another

Stages Growth: Toddler

• The average weight gain is 1.8 to 2.7 kg/year
• The formula to calculate normal weight of children over 1 year of age is: Age in years X 2+8 = ..... kg.
• During 1–2 years, the height increases by 1cm/month and about 10 to 12.5cm/year

Toddler Development: Fine Motor Skills

• At 1 year old, toddlers transfer objects from hand to hand
• At 2 years old, toddler can hold a crayon and color vertical strokes, and turn the page of a book, and build a tower of six blocks
• At 3 years old, they copy a circle and a cross – build using small blocks

Toddler Development: Gross Motor Skills

• Toddlers can walk alone and creep upstairs, and assume a standing position without falling
• They can hold a cup with all fingers grasping it
• at 18 months, toddlers can hold a cup with both hands, and transfer objects hand-to hand at will
• At 24 months, they can go up and down stairs alone with two feet on each step, and hold a cup with one hand
• They also learn to remove most of own clothes, and drink well from a small glass held in one hand

Stages Growth: Preschool

• The preschooler gains approximately 1.8kg/year
• The school–age child gains about 3.8kg/year and Boys tend to gain slightly more weight through 12 years
• The Weight Formula for 7 - 12 years is equal to (age in years x 7 )– 5 all divided by 2
• Children double their birth length by 4–5 years of age
• Pulse: 90+15 beats/min (75 to 105)
• Respiration: 21+3C/min (18–24)
• Blood Pressure: 100/60+16/10

Preschool Development: Fine Motor Skills

• 3 year olds copy a circle and a cross by building with small blocks
• 4 year olds use scissors and color within the borders
• 5 year olds write some letters and draw a person with body parts

Preschool Development: Gross Motor Skills

• Preschoolers button clothing, hold a pencil and build with small blocks
• Preschoolers use scissors, play a board game and have the ability to draw a picture of themselves

Objective of Physical Education

• Develop motor abilities like strength, speed, endurance, coordination, flexibility, agility and balance, as they are important aspects for good performance in different games and sports
• Develop techniques and tactics involved in organised physical activities, games and sports
• Acquire knowledge about the human body as its functioning is influenced by physical activities
• Understand the process of growth and development as participation in physical activities has positive relationship with it
• Develop socio-psychological aspects like control of emotions, balanced behavior, development of leadership and followership qualities and team spirit through participation in games and sports