Neighbourhood Results by Domain/Physical Health and Well-Being/Social Competence

The Physical Health and Well-Being domain refers to children’s physical
preparedness for the school day. The domain includes such concepts as physical
readiness for the school day, physical independence and gross and fine motor
skills. Physical readiness for school refers to a child being dressed appropriately
for various activities, attending school on time, and having slept and eaten
sufficiently, all of which can influence a child’s energy levels during the school
day. Physical independence refers to a child’s level of coordination and ability to
engage in activities such as climbing stairs in an effective manner, manipulating
objects in an appropriate way or going to the washroom on his/her own. Gross
and fine motor skills refer to a child’s ability at holding a pen, crayon or brush or
a child’s hand preference. This domain looks at each child’s overall physical
development.

Table 14 includes a description of children’s abilities within a certain percentile
range in the Physical Health and Well-Being domain. For example, children
scoring above the 75th percentile are considered to be very ready for school in this
particular domain.

Analysis of the Physical Health and Well-Being domain by neighbourhood found
that 19 neighbourhoods scored below the Ottawa 10th percentile and were thus
considered “vulnerable” on the Physical Health and Well-Being domain. The five
neighbourhoods with the highest percentage of children in the lowest 10th
percentile were, in ascending order: Lowertown (26.7%), Overbrook (29.9%),
Dalhousie (30.4%), Carlington (30.6%), and Centre Town (38.3%). Please see
Table 15 for a complete list of “vulnerable” neighbourhoods.

There were also many neighbourhoods in Ottawa that were doing extremely
well on the Physical Health and Well-Being domain. A total of 19
neighbourhoods scored above the Ottawa 75th percentile and were thus
considered “very ready for school”. The five neighbourhoods that had the highest
percentage of children in the top 25th percentile were, in ascending order:
Westboro (45.8%), Cumberland (47.5%), Orleans South (50.2%), Glebe (54.4%),
and Glen Cairn (60.5%). Please see Table 15 for a complete list of “very ready for
school” neighbourhoods.

Neighbourhood Results by Domain/Physical Health and Well-Being/Social Competence