The importance of physical activity in the growth and development of children

Physical activity should be an integral part of normal growth and development for all young people. Early in life, particularly in infancy and early childhood, physical activity has an important role in the physical, psychosocial and mental development of the child. Most importantly, self-initiated informal play should be stressed, as the opportunity for the young child to experience a wide range of physical activities is likely to provide the greatest chance of developing the set of motor skills needed for participation in later lifestyle and/or sports activities.