How Does Play Help Children’s Physical Development?

What is physical development?

Growth and development of the body and brain during early childhood are the most accurate descriptions of physical development. It involves mastering physical coordination, muscle movement, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills.

While you may think that physical development only refers to your child’s ability to move, as well as their physical growth, it also encompasses speech development, eye movement and development, and the advancement of all other senses.

7 ways play can benefit physical development

Play, especially physical play, has many health benefits for children. It bolsters early brain development and promotes the healthy development of bones and muscles. While it may be seen by some as kids just having fun, for children play is considered their work and is as important to their development as learning to read and count.

We’ve listed 7 ways that physical play can positively benefit child development below:

1 – Strengthens brain connections and supports cognitive development

Movement activities help build connections in the brain, making it an important part of childhood development. According to research, 75% of brain development occurs after birth, which further emphasises the importance of active play in a child’s life.

2 – Develops strong muscles and bones

Incorporating weight-bearing activities such as dancing, football, basketball, running and walking into your child’s daily routine will help your child develop bone and muscle strength. Bone structure is only fully developed by the late teen years, so it is important to include activities that make the bones work against gravity and bear weight.

3 – Promotes good cardiovascular health

60 minutes of daily exercise will help ensure your child has good heart health. 

Aerobic activities such as running, jumping, swimming, and climbing strengthen the heart muscles and can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.

4 – Heightens spatial awareness

Physical activities such as obstacle courses, ball sports, climbing on play equipment, and directional activities such as Simon Says play an essential role in developing a child’s spatial awareness.

5 – Improves balance

Children must develop the ability to maintain a steady position when performing various static and dynamic balance tasks, such as sitting, walking, or cycling. 

By two years old, children should be mastering the art of balance by ascending stairs while holding on with one hand and running with increased coordination.

6 – Cultivates good mental health

Play helps children maintain good mental health. Active play results in the release of endorphins, which increase happiness. Physically active children have lower levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. Active play helps children release frustration and reduces irritability. An improved mood results in better relationships, more enjoyable play experiences, and a happier child, resulting in more relaxed parents who can better support their child’s mental and physical well-being.

7 – Positively influences sleeping patterns and eating habits

Play has the added benefit of depleting your child’s energy, which is vital for developing healthy sleep patterns. Improved sleep aids healthy brain development and can help children develop healthier eating habits.

Boost your child’s physical development with these activities

Visit the park  – Playground play is a fantastic learning tool for children. It plays a huge role in their physical development but also helps to improve their cognitive abilities, social skills, emotional development, and intellectual development.

Spending time at a park allows children to master problem-solving through climbing and other fun activities. They can improve their grip strength with various overhead activities, such as trapeze rings and monkey bars.

Outdoor play also helps children get their daily dose of vitamin D, which improves mood and cognitive function.

Go on a nature walk – Walking in nature helps children learn to appreciate natural beauty while positively influencing their physical and mental well-being.

Create obstacle courses – Obstacle courses will help your kids develop coordinated movements while teaching them problem-solving skills.

Build with blocks and construction toys – Building with blocks and other construction toys teaches hand-eye coordination while improving your child’s spatial awareness. It also develops muscle strength in their fingers, hands, and arms, as well as grip strength.

Sculpt with playdough – When children play with playdough, they increase their dexterity. It also allows them to be creative and fosters sensory development.

Play dress-up and role-playing games – This form of free play gives children the space to express themselves creatively. It develops imagination and fine motor skills and improves cognitive development.

What are the physical benefits of playing?

The physical benefits of play include increased fitness, improved coordination, better balance and dexterity, and increased bone and muscle strength.

Work Cited:

“How Does Play Help Children's Physical Development?” Play Like Mum, 31 October 2022, https://www.playlikemum.com/how-does-play-help-childrens-physical-development/. Accessed 20 July 2023.