Physical development includes growth, such as height and weight, and developmental skills, such as the ability to run or build a tower. Although growth and development are different for each child, there are factors that will steadily affect physical development in either a positive or negative way throughout adolescent years.
Nutrition
Proper nutrition is important for physical growth, because malnourishment can harm development. A child needs to consume calories throughout the day for growth and have a well-balanced diet full of protein, fruits and vegetables. A baby will need breast milk or formula and his nutritional needs will grow to include small snacks and solid foods. Healthy Children, a website of resources published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, states that when he reaches school age he will gain about 4 to 7 pounds each year. His eating habits may fluctuate during periods of growth spurts, but as long as he is eating healthy and consistently there is typically no cause for concern.
Activity and Interaction
A sedentary lifestyle can impair bone growth and prevent a child from the ability to experiment with her physical skills. For a baby, the parenting network website BabyCenter states that play and interaction are crucial for physical growth because they allow a child to use her five senses, learn about the world and practice physical skills such as throwing, touching and pushing. The American Heart Association recommends that a child age 2 years and older have at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity daily, and that she have role models for physical activity.
Sleep
A sufficient amount of sleep is important for physical development. According to CNN Health, a growth hormone produced sporadically throughout the day is released steadily during sleep periods. The website KidsHealth states that young babies up to age 6 months need about 16 to 20 hours of sleep a day, broken up into shorter sleep periods. Older babies, toddlers and preschoolers need approximately 11 hours of sleep at night and one nap during the day. School-age children need 9 hours of sleep at night, and teenagers need 8 hours for maximum physical development.
