Meaning and characteristics of physical development

Physical development describes the growth and development of bodily components that enable the body to carry out certain tasks for specific talents. Both big and tiny muscle movements are a part of physical growth. It involves alterations to a person’s physique, brain, motor abilities, senses, and wellbeing. The majority of physical growth happens throughout childhood. A child’s emotional and social growth is aided by their increased self-confidence as they go through physical development.

Characteristics of physical development

  • Gross motor and fine motor abilities are the main areas of attention for physical development from birth through adolescence.
  • The capacity to manage one’s body develops together with physical growth. It focuses primarily on the improvement of physical coordination and muscular control.
  • During childhood, physical growth is most pronounced. Childhood is a crucial period for brain and body coordination, allowing people to master skills like crawling, walking, grabbing, and writing.
  • Young people have fast physical growth. The size of the bone and muscle fluctuate and develop throughout this time. Different bodily components mature and expand at varying speeds.
  • It happens sequentially, albeit physical growth and ability may change over the course of different phases and at varying speeds. For instance, a youngster first masters the art of crawling before moving on to the skills of walking and standing.
  • Children’s motor skills continue to improve through sports, musical instrument playing, and other activities. Children may learn about their bodies, direction, and space via these exercises.
  • Social and emotional growth are correlated with physical development. Children begin to develop self-confidence as they learn to regulate their bodies and become conscious of how their bodies work. Children’s emotional and social growth is encouraged by this.