All Modules B6-Development Matters in the early years | Page 25

Playing and Exploring, Active Learning, and Creating and Thinking Critically support children’s learning across all areas

4 Physical Development: Moving and Handling
Positive Relationships:
what adults could do

what adults could provide

• Encourage children to move with controlled
effort, and use associated vocabulary such
as ‘strong’, ‘firm’, ‘gentle’, ‘heavy’, ‘stretch’,
‘reach’, ‘tense’ and ‘floppy’.
• Use music of different styles and cultures to
create moods and talk about how people move
when they are sad, happy or cross.
• Motivate children to be active through games
such as follow the leader.
• Talk about why children should take care when
moving freely.
• Teach children the skills they need to use
equipment safely, e.g. cutting with scissors or
using tools.
• Encourage children to use the vocabulary of
movement, e.g. ‘gallop’, ‘slither’; of instruction
e.g. ‘follow’, ‘lead’ and ‘copy’. w
• Pose challenging questions such as ‘Can you
get all the way round the climbing frame without
your knees touching it?’
• Talk with children about the need to match their
actions to the space they are in.
• Show children how to collaborate in throwing,
rolling, fetching and receiving games,
encouraging children to play with one another
once their skills are sufficient.
• Introduce and encourage children to use the
vocabulary of manipulation, e.g. ‘squeeze’ and
‘prod.’
• Explain why safety is an important factor in
handling tools, equipment and materials, and
have sensible rules for everybody to follow.

• Provide time and space to enjoy energetic
play daily.
• Provide large portable equipment that
children can move about safely and
cooperatively to create their own structures,
such as milk crates, tyres, large cardboard
tubes.
• Practise