7.1 Explain benefits of physical activity for babies’ and children’s holistic health and wellbeing

This guide will help you answer 7.1 Explain benefits of physical activity for babies’ and children’s holistic health and wellbeing.

Physical activity plays a central role in supporting every aspect of a baby or child’s overall development. It strengthens the body, supports emotional stability, encourages positive social interaction and aids learning. When babies and children move and explore, they are building foundations for health and psychological wellbeing that continue into later life.

Holistic health looks at the whole child, including their physical, cognitive, emotional and social needs. Physical activity helps these areas grow together. This balance is important for lifelong health and development.

Physical Health Benefits

Active movement builds strong muscles and bones. Babies gain strength in the neck, back and limbs through tummy time, rolling and crawling. As children grow, activities such as running, climbing and jumping improve coordination and balance.

Regular physical activity helps to maintain a healthy weight and supports the cardiovascular system by improving heart and lung function. It also aids digestion and supports healthy sleep patterns.

Physical activity can help reduce the risk of certain illnesses later in life such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Establishing healthy movement habits early makes it more likely these habits will continue as the child grows.

Examples of physical benefits:

• Stronger muscles from crawling, walking and climbing
• Better posture from consistent movement activities
• Improved hand-eye coordination through ball games
• Greater stamina from active play and outdoor time

Motor Skills Development

Movement activities build both gross motor skills and fine motor skills. These skills are needed for independence and for meeting developmental milestones.

Gross motor skills involve large muscle groups used for actions like running, jumping and climbing. Babies develop these through rolling, sitting up, crawling and walking. Preschool children refine them through playground games, dancing or obstacle courses.

Fine motor skills involve smaller muscles, especially in the hands and fingers. These develop through activities like grasping toys, stacking blocks and painting. Fine motor skills are important for writing, using tools and self-care tasks like fastening clothes.

Well-planned activities give children a mix of both types of skill practice. Examples include:

• Threading beads for fine motor control
• Throwing and catching balls for gross motor control
• Using playdough to strengthen finger muscles
• Balancing on beams to improve coordination

Cognitive Development

Physical activity supports brain growth and learning. Movement carries signals from the body to the brain, and these signals help build neural connections. In babies, repeated movement helps the brain process new sensations.

Children learn problem-solving and spatial awareness through physical play. For example, climbing frames encourage them to think about the best way to get up or down. Physical activities can also improve concentration by helping children release excess energy and refocus their minds.

Movement games can help with memory and following instructions. For instance, a game of “Simon Says” involves listening, remembering and acting in sequence. This combines physical and mental skills.

Benefits for cognitive growth include:

• Better memory through active learning
• Improved listening skills from group play
• Stronger capacity to plan actions during movement challenges
• Greater awareness of cause and effect through experimenting physically

Emotional Wellbeing

Active play helps babies and children manage feelings. Movement can release tension and provide comfort. For example, rocking and swaying calms babies, while energetic play can help toddlers manage frustration.

Confidence grows when babies and children master a physical skill. Learning to walk or ride a tricycle brings a sense of achievement and pride. Overcoming small challenges builds resilience and self-belief.

Group play improves emotional regulation, as children practise sharing, turn-taking and coping with disappointment. The enjoyment of movement triggers positive brain chemicals, which can lift mood and reduce anxiety.

Signs of improved emotional wellbeing through physical activity:

• Greater self-confidence when trying new tasks
• Reduced temper tantrums for toddlers involved in active play
• More laughter and relaxation during outdoor play sessions
• Easier transitions between activities after movement breaks

Social Development

Social skills are strengthened through shared physical activities. Babies engage socially by mirroring adult movements or playing peek-a-boo. As they grow, play with peers allows them to learn cooperation and teamwork.

Outdoor games help children understand social rules such as waiting for a turn or following agreed rules. Group movement activities encourage communication and help children learn the importance of supporting others.

Working together physically creates bonds. Carrying a large object as a team or building a den in the garden brings children together in shared success.

Ways physical activity supports social growth:

• Turn-taking in playground games
• Helping others complete a group task
• Talking and negotiating rules during active play
• Copying and learning from peers in movement games

Long-Term Healthy Habits

Introducing physical activity early sets behaviour patterns that often last into adulthood. Children who learn to enjoy movement are more likely to stay active in later stages of life. This reduces the risk of lifestyle-related illness and improves future wellbeing.

Active children often build confidence in sports or active hobbies. They learn that movement is part of everyday life, not just something done occasionally. This mindset can encourage continued participation in recreational activities, clubs and sports groups.

Habits that may develop include:

• Choosing outdoor play over screen time
• Walking or cycling short distances rather than using transport
• Joining sports teams or dance clubs at school age
• Being comfortable with group activities and exercise

Role of the Environment in Supporting Activity

The right environment supports safe and stimulating physical activity. Babies need protected spaces for floor play. Older children benefit from challenging outdoor environments with varied surfaces, greenery and equipment.

Adults can organise environments to encourage exploration. For a baby, this might mean safe mats, low mirrors and reachable toys. For preschool children, it could include climbing structures, tunnels and open play areas.

A supportive environment should:

• Provide space for free movement
• Offer a variety of textures and surfaces
• Include age-appropriate equipment
• Allow supervised but independent exploration

Impact on Sleep and Rest

Active play can lead to better sleep for babies and children. Movement uses energy and helps regulate the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.

For babies, gentle activity can prepare them for naps, such as crawling after toys or practising tummy time. For older children, active outdoor play earlier in the day can help them fall asleep quicker at night.

Benefits to sleep from physical activity include:

• Falling asleep more quickly
• Longer periods of deep sleep
• More consistent nap and bedtime routines

Encouraging Children to be Active

Adults can encourage physical activity by joining in and setting an example. When carers and educators take part, children often feel motivated to follow.

Activity should be fun, varied and matched to each child’s ability. For babies, short bursts of movement are best. For older children, mixing quieter physical games with energetic activities keeps interest high.

Examples of encouragement:

• Smiling and clapping during a baby’s movement efforts
• Participating in dancing or running games with children
• Celebrating small achievements and new skills
• Using storytelling to introduce movement themes

Linking Physical Activity to Other Areas of Learning

Physical activity can connect with other learning areas. For example, counting steps in a game links to maths skills, while acting out a story in movement supports language development.

Children can learn about science through exploring how their bodies move or feeling different textures outdoors. Social studies can link to cultural dances or traditional games from different countries.

Ways to integrate learning with movement:

• Acting out animal movements during story time
• Using skipping games to practise number patterns
• Exploring rhythm through music and dance
• Building small obstacle courses to teach sequencing

Final Thoughts

Physical activity is a foundation for babies’ and children’s health and wellbeing. It supports every aspect of development, from muscle strength to emotional stability. By encouraging movement early, we help children establish positive patterns they can carry forward into their future.

The key is to make activity safe, accessible and enjoyable. When movement is part of daily life, it becomes natural and rewarding. This builds strong bodies, confident minds and happy relationships, all of which are essential for holistic growth.