Gross Motor Skills

Physical Development

Parent Wishes #13 – Support Children’s Physcial Development

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Continuing with the posts on parent wishes for early programs and kids with special needs, one parent’s wish is to support children’s physical development. This post gives some suggestions on play and movement activities for all kids.

physical development activities

Kids are all unique with their own strengths and challenges. Some will be constantly on the move and hands touch everything like walls and fences when walking. They bump into things just for the extra sensory stimulation. When talking to a grandparent on the phone, they pace back and forth or go round in circles. Other children do not have such high mobility needs, but they still need to strengthen their muscles and learn to coordinate their bodies. Some large muscle activities might be:

  • Have a space and time for kids to run, jump, hop, roll, climb, tip toe, kick, throw, and more. Containing kids’ energy in a house isn’t possible. Sometimes, a backyard isn’t big enough either. Hopefully, there are some parks and playgrounds in your area.
  • Sing some action songs, like Hokey Pokey or Shake Your Sillies Out.
  • Put on some dance music and enjoy it together. Do some exercises or yoga.holiday yoga for kids

Small muscles are still developing in young children so fine motor activities can be particularly challenging.

  • Play dough involves squishing, patting, rolling, pulling, smooshing, smoothing, and more.
  • Puzzles, blocks, puppets, paints, and other art materials are toys that exercise the muscles in the hands and wrists.
  • Playing in water, sand, dirt, and mud appeal to kids and support children’s physical development.
  • When cooking, kids can stir and mix.
  • Doing up buttons and zippers may take more time when kids do it than when we do, but it is important kids have the opportunity to practice.fine motor activities

Sensory activities are a part of physical development. Messy play is more than fun, it gives children a chance to learn and discover thru their senses.

If you had wish for programs and places for young children, such as daycare, preschool, and kindergarten, would it be to support children’s physical development and play?

 

Physical Development

Fall & Halloween: G is for Gross Motor Movement Fun

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Fall and Halloween weather may mean some indoor days but there are still ways for young children to have some gross motor movement fun. Ways that are easy on furniture and bodies.

Gross motor means movement activities that use the large muscles of the body like running, skipping, hopping, running, rolling, slithering, and more running. Sometimes I think hallways in a house could more accurately be called runways. However kids move, they need physical activities not just for their bodies but their brains too. Movement wires the brain for math and language by creating neural pathways and connections.

Halloween movement funWhat are some ways that kids can move indoors? If kids have experienced strong winds outside that blow leaves all around, they can make the wind noise and swirl around in a hallway or other safe space. Parents and caregivers can add an occasional commentary such as, “The leaves are flying all around.” Make a few windy, gusty sounds too because it can be nice to have an appreciative audience. Kids tend to move in short, vigorous bursts so after a few minutes of this, they might need a quick break. Perhaps, the leaves could be resting on the ground.

Some other ideas for movement fun could be creeping around like a ghost that barely makes a sound, flying around like a witch on a broomstick, stomping like a monster (maybe that one is not so great for apartments and people below), whirring like a robot, using huge steps like a dinosaur, shaking like a skeleton, or swooping like an owl.

gross motor movement Halloween funBecause there are so many costumes, kids could also hop like bunnies, flit like butterflies, and crawl like ladybugs. Kids will have their own suggestions for how they want to move in a space. Save a few strategies such as being an old, slow turtle or sitting still like a pumpkin for moments when calm and quiet are needed.

Big muscle activities are vital for children’s development. Is there space and time in your child’s day for some gross motor movement fun?

Infant and Toddler, Play Activities

Young Children and Rough and Tumble, Big Body Play

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rough and tumble playNot as controversial as weapons play, big body or rough and tumble play is often discouraged by parents, especially in the house. The wrestling, jumping, chasing, tumbling, racing, rolling and other play can get pretty loud even in a big place. But, little bodies seem to play like this naturally and it’s part of early learning and healthy development.

Rough-housing is more common with dads than with moms. Mariana Brussoni from the Department of Pediatrics at UBC explains why this is so and why this play is so important, despite the risks:

“…I consider risky play an injury prevention strategy. Risky play, including roughhousing, provides children with important developmental and physical benefits. Children who have the opportunity to engage with risks in a secure setting with minimal hazards and appropriate supervision learn lessons that will serve them in good stead when they encounter risks in the “real” world.”

“…Compared to mothers, fathers spend a larger percentage of their time playing with their children. Men’s approach to caring involves doing activities together and taking kids out to play.”

(KIds benefit from rough and tumble play with dads, UBC News, June 10, 2014)

Besides parents or other adults, brothers and sisters are often included. While some children, both boys and girls, seem to crave this sort of play, others are not as interested. Engaging in big body play stimulates social and emotional learning as well as language and communication. During rough play, children learn to listen and watch others for clues so they can play without hurting. Kids practice problem solving and other creative thinking skills. All of these are important for early learning and for interacting.

Of course, rowdy play needs careful supervision by adults and some reasonable rules for safety, such as no means no and making sure the space is clear. Sometimes, a time limit is helpful. How do you handle big body play at your house?

Play Activities

Young Children and the Controversy of Weapons Play

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I just discovered this tremendous resource of videos about early childhood, done by Jeff A. Johnson at Explorations Early Learning, and listened to a recent discussion on children and Weapons Play. Like many, many people I feel really uncomfortable about this kind of play. Jeff suggested that it is okay to let kids know our … Continue reading Young Children and the Controversy of Weapons Play →

Physical Development

Kindergarten Readiness – Body Position in Space Sense

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In doing this month’s series of blog posts on brain development and kindergarten readiness, I learned that we have more than 5 senses. Apparently, we have 7. In addition to taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing we have the sense of movement and of our body position in space. In a way, would that mean … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Body Position in Space Sense →

Physical Development

Spring Fun & Learning Activities #3

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The calendar says today is the first day of spring although the sun crossed the equator yesterday; that gave me the idea for today’s kindergarten readiness activity. The Equator is the mid-line of the planet. Our bodies have an imaginary mid-line too but it goes from the top of the head to the nose, tummy button … Continue reading Spring Fun & Learning Activities #3 →

Physical Development

Kindergarten Readiness – Spring Fun & Learning Activities #1

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St. Patrick’s Day means that it’s almost spring. Kids seem to be made of them — springs , that is — at this time of the year. Days are certainly longer especially with the time change, but are not always warm enough or dry enough to be outside. And all that energy needs to move. Here’s a … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Spring Fun & Learning Activities #1 →

Physical Development

Readiness for Kindergarten – Whole Body Play Fun

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With colder weather comes more inside the house days than outside ones. Does your little one need to wear off some pent-up energy? Physical play  is essential to both children’s healthy development and their learning. It’s easy to understand how physical play contributes to physical development and gross motor (muscle) coordination. But this kind of … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Whole Body Play Fun →

Holiday Activities

Readiness for Kindergarten – Easter Bunny Hop

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Easter bunnies don’t only have to hop. For some Easter fun, kids can try different ways to move. (Doing this along with the kids is great exercise for adults, too. ) Start with a hop on 2 feet. Next, try a hop on 1 foot and then the other. The Easter bunny may need to jump. Jump on … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Easter Bunny Hop →

Physical Development

Kindergarten Readiness – Spring into Action

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Speaking of spring….Kids always seem to have extra energy. Here’s a way to put it to good use and promote physical development and kindergarten readiness. Find a safe place for lots of moving. What are some different ways to move? Spring, jump, leap, walk, run, roll, crawl, hop, slither, dance, twirling, twisting, etc. Big muscles … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Spring into Action →