At the age of 5, children are entering their first year of school and start quickly developing physically, socially, and educationally.
During their first years at school, children start to become more independent, showing more interest in socialising with peers and building friendships, carrying out tasks themselves, and engaging in school work. The ability for children to play and engage with others is especially important during these Early Years Foundation Stages (EYFS).
In this blog, we take a closer look at physical development in 5 to 8-year-olds. By defining what physical development is and the physical development milestones 5 to 8-year-olds should hit, we will highlight the importance of physical development in EYFS children and offer actionable tips for encouraging development in your child.
What is physical development?
Physical development in EYFS refers to the development of a child’s body and movement ability. This can include:
- Muscle growth
- Strength
- Co-ordination
- Balance
- Spatial awareness
- Agility
- Handling
- Sensory development
The EYFS Framework emphasises the importance of physical development in EYFS children and their overall development, as it teaches children how to pursue healthy and active lifestyles. It also outlines how the development of fine motor skills and gross motor skills can help children build their independence, confidence, and control.
Physical development milestones for children aged 5 to 8 years old
Between the ages of 5 and 8, children will reach various physical development milestones. These milestones can be categorised into physical growth milestones and physical ability milestones.
In terms of physical growth, children aged 5 to 8 will begin putting on weight, growing taller, and gaining more muscle, making them stronger. As well as experiencing growth spurts, 5 to 8-year-olds might start to get better vision and notice their first adult teeth coming through.
5 to 8-year-olds will also display signs of improved physical ability, including more sophisticated motor skills and better coordination, balance, and control of their body and movement.
Despite only spanning a period of 4 years, the physical development of 5 to 8-year-olds evolves quite quickly. We have outlined some specific examples of the activities children in this age range can do below:
Physical development milestones for 5 to 6-year-olds
Most children aged 5-6 can:
- Walk backwards
- Run on their toes
- Balance when standing on one foot
- Walk heel-to-toe while staying balanced
- Hop and jump proficiently, including down steps and when using a skipping rope
- Throw and catch a ball using their hands rather than their arms
- Dance in time to music
- Skip
- Gallop
- Use simple tools like forks, spoons, and scissors to cut shapes in paper with
- Use swings
- Climb
- Use writing utensils to draw recognisable pictures, write short words and some letters accurately
Some 5 to 6-year-olds might also be able to:
- Swim well
- Independently ride a two-wheeled bike
- Roller skate
Physical development milestones for 7 to 8-year-olds
Children aged 7 to 8 can typically:
- Independently ride a two-wheeled bike
- Learn more complex sporting activities with a good level of control and skill
- Display strong motor skills
- Tie shoelaces
- Show quicker reaction times
- Hop on both legs
- Jump with both feet
- Balance steadily on walls and beams
- Write more accurately using print or cursive
How can I help encourage physical development in my 5 to 8-year-old child?
As a parent, teacher, or caretaker of a 5 to 8-year-old, there are a range of things you can do to encourage the physical development of your child.
Some ideas include:
Encouraging physical activity
Encouraging your child to get active can help teach them healthy habits. Whether they are doing physical activity by themselves, with you, or with their peers, exercising regularly will keep them healthy, teach them to enjoy getting active, and help them practice a range of physical skills. It can also improve their social skills at the same time!
You can encourage physical activity in your child in a few ways, including teaching them how to take part in different games and activities, and enrolling them into sports clubs and activities they show an interest in.
Limiting screen time
With technology so integrated into everyday life, it can be hard to manage the amount of time children are spending watching TV, playing video games, and using mobile phones and tablets. Limiting screen time can help reduce the hours spent being inactive and encourage children to spend their time doing other things, like playing outdoors and exercising.
Assigning household chores
Involving children in household chores can be great for their physical development whilst also getting you help around the house! Chores are particularly good for developing fine motor skills and precise hand movements, such as grabbing and using tools and utensils.
Examples of chores your child could help with include:
- Setting the table
- Picking up toys after they are finished playing with them
- Putting away clothes
- Tidying up
- Helping cook dinner
Setting aside time for play
Play is an important part of helping your child get creative, develop their social skills, and develop their physical skills. Whether this is indoors or outdoors, setting aside time for play with your child can help with their development.
Playing with your children in the garden or taking them to a local playground can present great opportunities for physical development as they can engage with a variety of outdoor play equipment, helping them practice their balance, stability, strength, and coordination. Learn more about the health benefits of children playing outside in our guide.
Sovereign Play’s Physical Development Outdoor Equipment
At Sovereign Play, we have over 30 years of experience in creating bespoke playgrounds for councils, nurseries, and primary schools.
Our team of experts are dedicated to creating outdoor playgrounds for EYFS children that provide a safe and exciting play space where children can develop their physical, social, and educational skills.
We offer the following services to help make and maintain the perfect playground for your needs:
Explore our range of EYFS physical development playground equipment or contact us to find out more about how we can help make the playground of your dreams a reality.
