Physical Development
In early years teaching, physical development is a cornerstone of growth and learning, divided into two key areas:
Gross Motor Skills focus on building core strength, balance, and control through the development of large muscles in the arms, legs, and torso.
Fine Motor Skills refine the smaller muscles in the fingers, hands, and wrists, laying the groundwork for tasks like writing, cutting, and manipulating tools.
These skills are critical because, during the early years, children transition from learning through active, whole-body play to sitting comfortably and focusing in a classroom environment. Developing strong physical foundations ensures they are ready to thrive academically and socially as they progress through their education journey.
These guides, activities and quick tips will help you develop gross and fine motor skills in a fun and engaging way!
Or you can buy our e-book of motor skills here.
The Blossom Guide to Autumn Activities - a range of activities that embrace the natural changes and develop fine motor.
The Blossom Guide to Age Appropriate Chores - Age appropriate chores for young children.
The Blossom Guide to Finger spaces - How to embed the habit of finger spaces and make them automatic.
The Blossom Guide to The Importance of drawing - Everything you need to know to help develop drawing as the step between thinking, speaking and writing.
The Blossom Guide to Learning to Read and Write - Including fine motor exercises to make sire hands are ready for writing- Including fine motor exercises to make sire hands are ready for writing.
The Blossom Guide to Name Writing - working on reading and writing names and improving fine motor.
The Blossom Guide to Pom Pom Mania - Making the most of a resource. Games and activities to develop fine and gross motor ready for writing.
The Blossom Guide to Scissor Skills - how to develop fine motor strength through using scissors.
The Blossom Guide to Schemas pt 1 - All about the four main schemas and how they can improve core strength, gross and fine motor.
The Blossom Guide to Treasure Baskets - ways to develop your child’s focus and fine motor.
Ten Minutes Together With a Physical Focus:
Let’s Make Bubbles! - How to make bubble liquid and what to do with it!
Christmas Crafts - Festive crafts that exercise hand muscles.
Let’s Make Conker Spider Webs - How to use conkers to make a fun craft!
Let’s Make Dandelion Clock Crafts - A lovely way to welcome in the spring and preserve these beautiful wonders of nature!
Let’s Make Dinos in The Snow - A fantastic and magical way to investigate shadows and develop wrist strength.
Let’s Make Fancy Gifts! - How to make gifts for people that they will want to keep!
Let’s Make a Figgy Pudding Box - a folded box that can hold a sweet treat and really exercises hand muscles.
Let’s Do an Indoor Workout - Some great ways to exercise muscles indoors!
Let’s Practise Leaf cutting - A super simple lovely way to develop scissor skills.
Let’s Make a Leap frog - A great craft activity which builds finger strength.
Let’s Learn About Magnets - Find out about magnetism and strengthen fingers at the same time.
Let’s Make an Advent Calendar - A fun calendar to make for the festive season!
Let’s Practise Name Writing - building pencil grip and name writing.
Let’s Explore Natural materials - Fine motor exercises with a natural material focus.
Let’s Make Poppy Cookies - A lovely recipe to make.
Let’s Make a Pumpkin Box - a folded box that can hold a sweet treat and really exercises hand muscles.
Let’s Make Pumpkin Crafts - Using scissors and fine motor skills to make lovely crafts to make with a pumpkin theme.
Let’s Practise Putting Your Coat On - An essential skill which requires motor strength.
Let’s Make Sand Foam - How to make sand foam at home and use it to strengthen hands.
Let’s Practise Scissor Skills - Great for improving fine motor.
Let’s Make Strawberry Box - a folded box that can hold a sweet treat and really exercises hand muscles.
Let’s Make Team Game - A great game to play together that builds core strength.
Let’s Make Woodland Scene - Make a lovely woodland scene using scissors and paper folding to build muscles.
Let’s Make Chinese Firecracker - Make exciting firecrackers that fire paper!
Let’s Make Super Stars - Cardboard stars made using toilet roll tubes and build finger strength.
Let’s Make Teds in Beds - A lovely baking activity which needs control and care when working the dough.
Let’s Make Nice Gifts - Make gifts for friends, family and teachers that they will want to keep!
Let’s Learn With Play Doh! - Making playdoh and exploring the changes that the ingredients go through.
Top Tips With a Physical Focus: