Growing and Developing

At Sunflowers Day Nursery, we know that movement and physical activity are a vital part of your child’s development. Through play, exploration, and everyday activities, children build the skills they need to grow stronger, more confident, and more independent.

We provide a range of opportunities for children to develop both their fine and gross motor skills in a fun and engaging way, helping them to enjoy being active while supporting their overall wellbeing.

Physical Development

Physical development is an important part of your child’s growth. It helps children build strength, coordination, and confidence, allowing them to explore the world around them and take part in everyday activities.

There are two main areas of physical development:

Fine motor skills – using smaller muscles (hands, fingers, face)
Gross motor skills – using larger muscles (arms, legs, whole body)

Both are equally important and work closely together as your child grows.

Why Physical Development Matters

Supporting your child’s physical development helps them to:

Build strong muscles and healthy bones
Improve balance and coordination
Develop important movement skills
Sleep better
Build confidence and independence
Develop healthy habits through active play, sport, and movement
Support overall wellbeing and emotional health

Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills involve small, precise movements using the hands, fingers, and facial muscles. These skills are essential for everyday tasks such as:

Eating and using cutlery
Writing and drawing
Getting dressed
Holding and manipulating objects

As children develop these skills, they become more independent and confident in completing daily activities.

Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skills involve larger movements using the whole body. These include activities such as:

Running, jumping, and climbing
Balancing and coordinating movements
Playing active games

Developing gross motor skills helps children become stronger, more agile, and more confident in their movements. It also supports social development, as children often use these skills when playing with others.

Strong gross motor skills also support the development of fine motor skills, so both areas are closely linked.

How We Support Physical Development at Sunflowers

At Sunflowers Day Nursery, we support children’s physical development through a range of engaging and age-appropriate activities.

Children are encouraged to take part in daily free play, where they can choose activities that interest them. Our environment is carefully planned to support both fine and gross motor development.

For fine motor skills, we provide activities such as “finger gym” and sensory trays, helping children practise movements like gripping, pouring, and manipulating small objects. These activities are often linked to current topics or children’s interests.

For gross motor development, children have opportunities for active play that supports movement, coordination, and confidence.

We understand that every child develops at their own pace. Some children may need more time and support, and we provide encouragement, patience, and opportunities to help them progress.

If there are any concerns about a child’s development, we encourage both staff and parents to speak with our SENCo so we can work together to provide the right support.