Nursery World - Physical ability: Striding ahead

<P> Bodily development in babies and toddlers is crucial to their mental growth, says Jennie Lindon </P>

Bodily development in babies and toddlers is crucial to their mental growth, says Jennie Lindon

The developmental state of newborn human babies is the result of a compromise. At full term, or close to 37/38 weeks, our babies are able to survive an independent life outside the womb. Their brains have already started to develop and are poised for an impressive rate of change over the next couple of years. However, if their brains were more developed, their heads would be larger and, as some books delicately say, 'normal birth would not be possible'.

So our babies do not get up and toddle off within an hour or so of birth, like the young of many other mammals. They look vulnerable physically and they need our care to thrive. But watch babies and you will see that they use their physical abilities to the full. The ability of babies to exert physical control over their body moves steadily in two directions: from the top of their head down towards their feet and from the midline of the body out towards the extremities.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included