Nursery World - Learning & Development: Physical well-being

Neurophysical development takes a number of forms in early
childhood. In an edited extract from her new book, Anne O'Connor
explains what these are, why they matter and how to support them.

The 'biological drive' for children to use their bodies and their developing physical skills referred to in the Early Years Foundation Stage themes and commitments (2008) is fundamental, not just to the growth of muscles and joints but also to brain development. Because of the link between physical development and the architecture of the brain, we refer to this specifically as neurophysiological development.

Physical activity is vital long before a baby begins walking and moving around independently. Even in the womb, a foetus is moving and as well as helping to build skeletal development those little kicks and movements are also the first language the child has for communicating with the world outside the womb. Once born, a baby is expected to wriggle and squirm, to kick their legs and reach out with their hands, without realising that every time a movement is repeated it is creating and reinforcing an important pathway in the brain.

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