Physical health

Infants and Toddlers (0-36 months)

Infants and toddlers make major gains in physical and sensory coordination, dexterity and balance, especially during their first three years of life. To succeed, they need physical health and wellbeing, which requires the commitment and supervision of the adults in their lives.

Young and older infants alike are particularly dependent on adults to safeguard their physical, dental, nutritional and other basic needs. Young toddlers begin to understand self-help routines and can be active in their care. Older toddlers rely on their emerging independence as a motivator to be responsible for their basic needs. All children age three and younger require consistent and caring adult supervision.

There are two components of physical health in infants and toddlers:

Bottom line: When parents, caregivers and teachers give infants and toddlers attention, encouragement and intervention, they thrive. These adults, along with health professionals specializing in infant and toddler development, must partner to ensure a child’s physical wellness.

Preschoolers (3-5 years old)

Physical health impacts development, which is why health promotion in preschoolers is so important. Physically active and healthy children also enjoy an enhanced social wellbeing. Adult diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular illnesses begin developing during gestation and early childhood, when children start acquiring health-related behaviors such as eating preferences and exercise patterns.

There are two components of physical health in preschoolers:

Bottom line: Promoting positive health habits in preschoolers is a stepping-stone for their future life-long health.