From Crayons to Climbing Frames: How Nursery Builds Physical Confidence

Physical confidence doesn’t just happen—it’s carefully nurtured in environments where children are encouraged to move, explore, and trust their bodies.

For nursery-aged children, movement is their first language. Before they learn to write their name or read their first book, they learn to run, jump, balance, build, and create.

Each of these actions supports not just their physical growth, but their emotional, cognitive, and social development as well.

In nursery settings, developing physical skills goes far beyond P.E. lessons or playtime. It is woven into the very fabric of the daily routine. From fine motor activities like threading beads and drawing pictures, to gross motor challenges like climbing frames and ride-on toys, every movement matters.

Let’s explore how nurseries foster physical development and why it’s central to building not only stronger bodies—but stronger, more confident learners.

Understanding Physical Development in Early Years

Physical development in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is divided into two key areas:

• Gross Motor Skills – These involve large movements using the arms, legs, and entire body. Running, climbing, throwing, hopping, and balancing are examples. They help develop core strength, coordination, posture, and spatial awareness.
• Fine Motor Skills – These require more precise control and coordination of the small muscles, especially in hands and fingers. Tasks like using cutlery, brushing teeth, holding pencils, and buttoning clothing fall into this category.

Together, these skills not only support everyday independence, but form the bedrock of school readiness. After all, children need strong gross motor control to sit upright in class, and refined fine motor skills to hold a pencil and begin writing.

How Nursery Supports Movement, Confidence, and Mastery

A quality nursery is far more than a place for supervision—it’s an environment designed to spark movement, exploration, and self-belief.

1. Designed for Movement

Well-structured nursery classrooms and outdoor spaces encourage movement at every opportunity. Children are not confined to desks; instead, they move between activity stations, climb, dig, dance, and explore.

In indoor settings, fine motor activities are embedded into creative tasks—such as:

• Mark-making with crayons, chalk, and paint
• Threading and weaving with ribbons or beads
• Building with small blocks or connecting toys
• Puzzles that require manipulation and planning

These develop dexterity, finger strength, and hand-eye coordination.

• Outdoors, gross motor skills are promoted through:
• Obstacle courses and climbing frame
• Scooters, bikes, and push toys
• Open spaces for running and ball games
• Natural features like logs, mounds, and sand pits

This balance of fine and gross motor activity ensures children are growing physically across all areas.

2. Safe Risk-Taking Builds Resilience

Risk in a controlled environment is essential to development. Children learn by testing their limits—climbing a little higher, jumping a little further, or balancing a little longer.

At a high-quality day nursery in Brentford, educators supervise these experiences closely, encouraging effort, cheering on progress, and stepping in only when needed. This lets children learn through trial and error, building resilience and confidence in their abilities.

When a child attempts something new and succeeds—even after failing once or twice—the message is clear: “I can do hard things.”

3. Physical Play is Social and Emotional Learning, Too

Physical development and emotional regulation are closely linked. Movement helps children process emotions, release energy, and build positive relationships.

Whether they're negotiating turn-taking on the slide or collaborating on a group building project, children are learning cooperation, patience, and empathy.

Nurseries also use physical activities to help children manage transitions, reduce anxiety, and prepare for more focused learning tasks. Music and movement sessions, sensory play, and yoga for young children are all powerful tools in promoting calm, self-awareness, and regulation.

Laying the Groundwork for Lifelong Learning

What may look like “just play” is actually powerful preparation for future learning. Research consistently shows that physical activity in early childhood is linked to:

• Better concentration and memory
• Improved classroom behaviour
• Enhanced reading and math skills
• Reduced anxiety and increased resilience

Children who move with confidence are more likely to take initiative, embrace challenges, and engage deeply in their learning. The early years are a critical window for this development—which is why the best nurseries make movement a cornerstone of their curriculum.

A standout nursery Brentford families trust will not only provide stimulating activities but also adapt to each child’s pace and needs.

For children who are naturally more cautious, staff can gently support confidence-building. For more active or sensory-seeking children, educators provide safe outlets for movement that channel their energy constructively.

The Home-Nursery Connection

Parents play a key role in reinforcing physical confidence outside of the nursery. Some practical ways to support development at home include:

Encouraging active play: trips to the park, dancing to music, or nature walks

• Limiting screen time to ensure ample time for physical movement
• Providing child-friendly tools like safety scissors, crayons, or building kits
• Allowing independence in self-care tasks: dressing, feeding, cleaning up

Working in partnership with your child’s nursery ensures consistent support and messaging. Ask your child’s key worker for updates on their motor development, and build on those activities at home.

Final Thoughts

Physical development in nursery is about much more than reaching milestones—it’s about building strong, confident, curious learners. Whether a child is gripping their first crayon or scaling their first climbing frame, each experience lays the foundation for independence, resilience, and school readiness.

Through carefully designed environments, expert guidance, and daily opportunities to move and explore, nurseries help children discover the joy of what their bodies can do. And when children believe in themselves physically, they carry that confidence into every part of their learning journey.