Factors Affecting Physical Development in Children

As a parent, you are always concerned about creating the best environment for your children and being able to stimulate them both physically and mentally to reach their full potential. There are certain factors that have a strong influence on the growth of children and that ensure their optimal health and well-being.

Food and Nutrition

• You need to provide your child with healthy and balanced nutrition to ensure physical growth and well-being. By avoiding too much sugar, fat and additives, you will decrease the likelihood of later health-related problems. In fact, a healthy diet has a direct impact on physical growth and mental development. Children should eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and very few processed foods.

Sports and Physical Activities

• Children have a lot of energy, and they need opportunities for outdoor activities and to try various sports. Exercise helps your children burn extra calories, develop and strengthen their muscles and coordination and sleep more restfully. Limit television and video games so your children are not sitting in front of a screen for hours a day.

Stress

• Family stress also affects the physical development of children. Overstressed children who are anxious, frightened or worried may be unable to sleep well or may sleep too much. They may have headaches or digestive problems, lose their appetites or eat far too much as a way to comfort themselves. Try to keep your household as calm as possible. If your child is stressed out from too many extracurricular activities, eliminate one or two.

The Importance of Heredity

• If there is a family history of certain diseases or health-related problems, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, tell your child's pediatrician. Take your child for regular checkups to be sure he is growing and developing at a normal rate. Take any precautionary steps your pediatrician recommends.