Physical needs or disabilities can affect a child or young person's ability to move, their ability to use their hands and feet to carry out everyday activities, and their stamina (the 'energy or strength to keep going'). Physical disabilities can vary widely: some children may have difficulty crawling, walking or running (sometimes known as 'gross motor skills'); others might find it difficult to write or use their hands to hold things such as scissors, or cutlery (sometimes known as 'fine motor skills').
Physical disabilities can arise from a range of conditions which affect the way a person's muscles work. Conditions which affect the brain’s ability to process information, and communicate with the rest of the body to produce movement are known as 'neurological'. You can be born with physical and neurological conditions, or they could be caused by injury - for example, a brain or spinal cord injury.