Physical Development, part 3: Building strength and stamina

Being strong and going fast really matter to young children. Overall body strength can extend opportunities for play. Being speedy furthers the possibilities for risk, challenge and adventure. Both traits are linked to stamina, gaining physical skills, injury prevention and daily safety.

But in a climate where it is becoming increasingly common for settings to outsource their physical development practice to sports and activity providers, what should we be aware of?

‘Strength and stamina is important but we should ensure it is developmentally appropriate and suggest physically active play rather than exercise,’ says Helen Batteley, physical development consultant. ‘Children’s skeletal structure isn’t designed for high intensity or repetitive exercise.’

What are the activities that best support children’s muscular strength and endurance? What do early years experts suggest practitioners do?

IN SETTINGS

Babies and young children need a wide variety of opportunities to practice big body movements on their own terms, in their own time, on the floor in different positions. Penny Greenland of Jabadao says, ‘Look out for skydiving – when babies lying on their tummies lift their head, hands, arms then feet off the floor all at once. This is wonderfully strengthening and very hard work.’

‘Don’t forget lots of wriggle and squirm play and “core connection” play – it looks like nothing but is a vitally important way for children to flex, extend and strengthen the muscles around the sides of the body,’ she adds. ‘Commando crawling on elbows is also really tough as [babies] are holding their heads up and rolling from side to side while going forwards. Crawling on hands and knees is possibly the most efficient and effective way of supporting overall body strength, including hands.’

The Pikler approach also advocates for babies having plenty of time exploring on the floor on their backs, experimenting with movement and the position of their limbs before they begin to roll onto their sides and stomachs. Devices such as bouncers and walkers should not be used.

Angela Hanscom, author of Balanced and Barefoot, says ‘when children are exposed to low and gentle forces multiple times a day, even as babies, they quickly develop the muscle strength they need to support their own weight. This happens naturally through play.’

As children grow and develop, climbing and clambering are wonderful moves to strengthen small bodies. So too is pulling up to standing and bobbing.

Ultimately what we should provide is lots of child-directed walking, running, jumping, galloping and skipping.

Prof. Jan White also advocates for moving on and over different surfaces outside, climbing at varied heights, walking and running up and down gradients.

Josh Candy of Grandir UK agrees. ‘If children are exposed to various environments and challenges, strength will come naturally from climbing trees, swimming in the sea, going up and down steps. Stamina will come from walking to the shops, running up and down hills, and biking.’

Dr Ben Langdown from the OU says, ‘The myth that children shouldn’t engage in any strength/resistance training should be challenged. As they run, crawl, climb and roll they are using all elements of resistance training that will help them develop strength and stamina.’

Just getting children to do everyday tasks such as housework can support the muscles in a more developmentally friendly way, says US early years physical development expert Rae Pica.

Finally, our observations and dialogue with the children will tell us when they are feeling strong, energetic and up for anything.

WHAT EXPERTS AGREE

• The ‘big-body movements’ or foundation/gross motor skills are by far the most effective way for children to develop muscle strength, endurance, stamina.
• Many and varied opportunities should be provided for children to practise and refine these skills. Specific ‘training’ – ‘drill and skill’ to achieve a desired ‘form’, or to engage in performance and competition – is not desirable.
• These skills provide all the critical underpinnings for future more complex movements and fine motor skills.
• Rest is important to factor in. It doesn’t always mean stopping, it may include switching activities.
  
  

OUTSIDE PROVIDERS

Strength ‘training’ for our outside providers is frequently specific and closely related to the discipline they are promoting and teaching. Often this is linked to competition, performance, achievement of grades and reaching or beating a particular score before progressing further.

Often mental strength features. Conquering nerves, being resilient, concentrating, and being a positive group member are all part of this.

Swimming coach Tim Legge says ‘swimming gives the most complete all-over strength and stamina experience as water provides the perfect level of resistance for young muscles to develop’.

However, I would add it is worrying to see sometimes how coaches push children too fast and enter them for awards they are not ready for – also, introducing technical strokes too early leads to all sorts of problems later on.

Colin Heath from Boxingtots says ‘what we do is physically demanding and they leave hot and sweaty – we practise lots of combinations and by repeating them they get faster and more accurate; the safety aspect is vital.’

Ballet teacher Angela Grant says that in her practice, body strength is linked to good posture. ‘All our routines and combinations feed into overall strength, particularly in feet and ankles. We hold many positions but also run very fast and stop.’

Gymnastics coach Rebecca Crane says ‘for strength/endurance training we have a bar circuit, so they hang on a low bar making different shapes with their legs, then hang on a higher bar and practise turning. For stamina we do run-ups for vaults.’

MEET IN THE MIDDLE

What can we learn from each other?

• Improving ‘form’ and technique is important to many children and this is an element we may include in small ways, for example, making the beginnings and endings of movements more accurate, or landing without toppling.
• Being comfortable with repetition: outside providers often follow tightly structured session plans, which provides consistency for children that is comforting/nurturing. ‘Same is good’ is a message we could consider more often.
• We can suggest more varied ways to support children’s overall strength, endurance and stamina, inside and outdoors.
• We can work together to create more effective ways to support inclusive practice and adapt activities for individuals.
  
  

Strength and endurance

Strength:

• This is the ability to exert force against something with a single maximum effort.
• Muscle strength develops in response to stimulation. Slow and steady, and multiple occasions in the day, work best for young children.
• Good muscle strength will also support joint health.
• A University of Essex study (2014) said the core strength and hand grip of ten-year-olds had decreased by 20 per cent in the previous 16 years.

Endurance:

• Muscular endurance is the ability to exert force repeatedly and being able to sustain effort.
• It is related to stamina, which is good. cardiovascular function.
• The American Heart Association saysthe cardiovascular capacity of children declined by 6 per cent per decade.
  
  

CASE STUDY: Ore Church Mice Preschool

Manager Glen Russell says: ‘I noticed boys challenging themselves; running up to our boundary line and then seeing how far they could leap over it, making up their own targets to reach and then extending them again.

They watch a lot of wrestling and superheroes so enjoy a lot of rough and tumble play. They use me as a prop to climb on and propel over. We often make courses together.

‘Natural resources are good – when we go out we purposefully stop at local landmarks, like a tree we climb and jump from, a muddy bank we scramble up on all fours and then slide down.

‘Sometimes it’s about just noticing what’s around us and making use of the mundane. Let’s face it, tidying up becomes a lot more absorbing if you’re asked to carry a large crash mat or builder’s tray with your friends. Putting table and chairs out for lunch can be quite demanding.’