Today's "Good Health Minute"

Wednesday, July 23rd

Your child begins life as a being with little control of movement and progresses to one who can run, jump, laugh, sing, write with a pencil and control his own small and large muscles with growing confidence. This progression is physical development.

• Although humans change physically throughout life, the changes that occur during the first four years are dramatic and eagerly awaited. Muscle-skills development and maintaining a healthy body are especially important to future reading, writing, and math success.
   

• You can help your child develop physically by feeding your child when he is hungry and by helping him exercise those developing muscles. Children develop from the top to the bottom. (First, the head muscles become strong, then the body, then the legs, then the feet.) They also develop from the inside to the outside. (First, the trunk of the body becomes strong, then the arms and legs, and then the hands and feet.)
   

• Large muscles (those that control large movements like crawling, walking, hopping, throwing, catching, and balancing) develop before small muscles (those that control the wrist and hand in activities like drawing, cutting, stringing beads, building block towers).

Be excited about these developing skills and show your child that you are excited! It will encourage him to try even harder. The old saying that practice makes perfect is certainly true in this case.

The "Good Health Minute" is a public service designed to offer health information. It is not intended to replace the advice/care of a physician. As with any health information you may receive, always consult
your physician to determine the best plan of care for you.