CBSE Class 12 Physical Education Children and Sports Assignment

Children and Women in Sports Motor Development
Motor developments essentially refers to the development of a child’s bones, muscles and the ability to move around and manipulate the environment. In other words, it is the development of various motor abilities and change in movement that one undergoes throughout life, from birth till death.

Types of Motor Development
There are two types of motor development/skills
(i) Gross Motor Development It involves the development of the larger muscles or groups of larger muscles to maintain posture and balance for activities such as throwing a ball, walking, running, hopping etc.
(ii) Fine Motor Development It involves the development of the smaller muscles of the hand, feet and face for more precise activities such as eating, speaking, playing with toys, writing, etc.

Motor Development in Children

There are different stages of motor development which are discussed below

1. Infanthood (0-2 years) This is first stage of the motor development. An infant starts holding the head in the upright position and lifting arms. He/she begins sitting, crawling and rolling from side to back. He/she also learns to stand and walk.

2. Early Childhood (3-6 years) It is a time of tremendous growth across all areas of motor development. In this period of per-school year, a child becomes perfect in some basic movements such as running, jumping, throwing etc. As the development reaches a satisfactory level, sports training for gymnastics and swimming can be started as they involve basic movements. Competitions are avoided in this stage.

• Middle Childhood (7-10 years) The primary development task of middle childhood children is to learn the values of their societies. Growth is slow and steady until the onset of puberty.

• Late Childhood (11-12 years) This period of childhood is also known as Adolescence. It is another period of accelerated growth. Most of the children, during this period, master the most intricate or complex motor skills.

Factors Affecting Motor Development
The development and quality of a child’s motor skills are influenced by many factors. They are explained below

1. Genetic Factors The genetic factors that a child receive from their parents are greatly responsible for motor development. The percentage of fast twitch and slow twitch fibres depend on biological factors that affect the rate and ability of motor development. They affect body weight, size and strength.

2. Environmental Factors Physical and social factors such as encouragement, opportunities, motivation, love and security push a child to explore his/her surrounding. This leads to better motor development.

3. Food and Nutrition Sensory motor development depends upon the nutrition provided to a child. Nutritious food ensures that children do not lack energy and they become stronger which leads to good motor development.

4. Deformities and Disabilities Children having postural deformities like flat foot, knock-knees and various other disabilities will slow down the motor development in comparison to other children of same age.

5. Endurance This is the ability of a child to maintain the exertion required for an activity. A child with poor endurance might be able to step up a stair but not climb a full flight of stairs.

6. Obesity Overweight or obesity makes a child lethargic and reduces the performance as well as participation in motor skill activities.

Exercise Guidelines at Different Stages of Growth and Development
Exercises play an important role in shaping up the mind and body of a person as well as a nation. Therefore it is essential at each and every stage of growth and development.
The important characteristics and exercise guidelines for each stage are mentioned below

Infanthood (1 to 2 yrs)
• Gross motor skill exercises with the use of toys should be encouraged.
• Very light exercises consisting reaching, grasping, pulling and pushing, etc. should be encouraged.
• Watching TV, use of a stroller or a high chair should be avoided.
• Exercises to develop gross motor skills like head control, sitting and crawling.

Early Childhood (3-7 Years)
• Exercises to develop competence in movement skills like jumping, throwing, skipping, etc. to be encouraged.
• Emphasis should be on participation not on competition.
• Activities that develop fine motor skills or coordinative abilities.
• 60 minutes of structured and unstructured activities must be promoted.
• Stress on team games and basic rules of sports competition.
• Introduction to sports training and exercises for strength, agility, coordination and balance.

Middle Childhood (8-12 Years)
• Exercise to develop body control, balance, strength and coordination should be encouraged.
• Activities related to develop endurance to be avoided.

Adolescence (13-19 Years)
• Moderate to vigorous exercises for 60 mins is recommended.
• Muscle strengthening exercise atleast 3 days in a week is suggested.
• Reduce sedentary behaviour.

Adulthood (Above 19 Years)
• Light to moderate intensity exercises.
• Muscle and bone strength exercises are promotes.
• Exercises focusing on power, endurance and mass must be performed.

Common Postural Deformities
This refers to the deformation in the skeletal structure or where the body parts are not properly aligned that results in some kind of postural deformities. People having postural deformities cannot perform their work efficiently. 
Some common postural deformities are Knock Knee, Flat Foot, Round Shoulders, Lordosis, Kyphosis, Bow Legs and Scoliosis.

1. Knock Knee Knock knee is a postural deformity in which both the knees touch or overlap each other in the normal standing position. Due to this deformity, an individual usually faces difficulty during walking.

2. Flat Foot It is a deformity of the feet. In this deformity, there is no arch in the foot and the foot is completely flat. The individual faces problems in standing, walking, jumping and running.

3. Round Shoulders It is a postural deformity in which the shoulders become round as they are drawn forward, the head is extended and the chin points forward.

4. Lordosis It is the inward curvature of the spine or a deformity of spinal curvature. It is an increased forward curve in the lumbar region. It creates problems in standing and walking.

5. Kyphosis It is a deformity of the spinal curvature in which there is an increase of exaggeration of a backward curve or a decrease of a forward curve.
It is also called as round upper back.

6. Bow Legs It is a deformity just the reverse of the knock knee position. In fact, if there is a wide gap between the knees, the deformity can be observed easily when an individual walks or runs.

7. Scoliosis It is a postural deformity of spinal curvature in which there is one large lateral curve extending through the whole length of the spine, or there may be two curves. This type of deformity is also called curve.

Sports Participation ofWomen in India
The participation of women in sports in India is very small. This problem is directly related to the socio-psychological problem of gender inequality prevalent in the nation. The society as well as the media not give women athletes the space they deserve.

Factors causing less participation of women in sports
• Time constraints
• Social constraints
• Lack of sports infrastructure and facilities
• Concerns for personal safety
• Lack of Self-Confidence
• Male dominated culture of sports

However, things are changing and improving with more women entering the field of sports. The number of women participants at the international level has increased extensively in the last few years. If the factors associated with less participation of women in sports is reversed, women could easily dominate the field of sports.