ABSTRACT
During the past decade there has been a sharp increase in the concerns relating to children’s physical health. In response to this, The Growing Child sets out to explore this aspect of physical development in the early years and examines the fundamental links between regular physical play and a child’s health and well-being. Recognised as a key or prime area of development by Dame Tickell in the review of the Early Years Framework in 2011, physical health is related to all other aspects of learning. It must not be forgotten that attitudes we adopt in the early years often set the blueprint for later life. Therefore it is vital that in the early years children lay the ‘foundations for good health in adult life’.1 This book will invite the reader to reflect on their own childhood and consider the fundamental characteristics associated with being a successful learner as defined in 1994 by Sir Christopher Ball, which are those of:
motivation socialisation confidence.2
