ABSTRACT
It is difficult for us to comprehend that young children growing up in the twentyfirst century in some of the richest, most advanced countries in the Western world are increasingly being denied the essential components necessary to set them up for a healthy and happy life. This statement may sound implausible but research worldwide indicates that children and families are increasingly leading hurried and pressured lifestyles. The results of these influences on a family’s lifestyle have undoubtedly led to changes in the upbringing of children. It is important, therefore, that practitioners working in early years settings consider the significance of physical development and health to all-round learning and development. With my background in early years education, but also as a mother, I was recently appalled to see a catalogue selling gym equipment advertised for nursery schools. This equipment was marketed to settings wanting to improve the physical skills and health of their children; the list included exercise bikes, treadmills, rowing machines, a mini-stepper and weight bench. I found myself asking how we could have moved so far from the nature of the English nursery school where play was so highly valued. Few of us surely would think that this is the best way to set young children up for a healthy, rewarding life. Thus The Growing Child will explore, with reference to theory and practice, the importance of developing the aspect of physical development in the early years and its close ties in establishing healthy patterns for life. Although many of us may have few memories from our earliest years, it is these early experiences that often shape and influence many aspects of our adult lives. My own early memories relate to days spent with my brothers on a local beach – freedom seldom given to children today. Brought up on the Kent coast, the beach, surrounding promenades, Victorian gardens and coastland became our playground. They offered rich opportunities throughout the year for physical challenge, sensory
stimulation and adventure. Some forty years later my own children use many of the same outdoor spaces to play and explore, but somehow, as a society, it seems that we have lost sight of the importance of these tactile physical experiences. As early years practitioners, we have a privileged part to play in supporting and enriching the lives of a new generation of young children and their families. These early experiences can set trajectories that affect cognition, relationships, health and well-being for individuals throughout their life. Furthermore, new concerns relating to health and well-being resound today; with physical play and activity seen as an important way of preventing and reducing childhood obesity. The level of obesity in the UK has been portrayed as an epidemic and its impact on children’s health and well-being should be a concern for all in society. Many of these concerns focus on poor diets as a major cause but practitioners need to recognise the huge impact that physical activity can play in reversing this trend to obesity. More recently, a return of rickets in parts of England has resulted in a call for children to spend longer periods of time outdoors. The disease had all but died out some eighty years ago but is now returning. It is caused by low levels of vitamin D generated in the body from sunshine and particular types of foods. It is reported that children from all backgrounds are now being affected, a change from the Victorian times when only the poor seemed at risk.
