Debbie Is your child having a delay in his motor development?
Development is important to every child, and learning to use their gross motor skills is part of that. Gross motor skills often relate to physical coordination. And since it’s easier for us to control and notice the body over the brain, it’s often our first indication that something is wrong.
If you’re wondering how you can improve the gross motor skills of your developing children, we have the right guide for you.
Read on to learn more about this topic.
1. Swimming
Swimming considers a pediatric physical therapy that helps to improve coordination and balance. Swimming lessons will help your child to learn how to control their body in the water, and how to stay safe.
This is an excellent child development activity as the movement of the arms and legs in the water helps to strengthen muscles and improve coordination. Swimming also helps to develop balance and proprioception (awareness of where the body is in space).
2. Playing Tag
This is a fun game that will get your child moving and help them to develop their coordination. They can play tag indoors or outdoors, so it is a great activity for all seasons. When playing tag, make sure to have plenty of space so that your child can run around and have fun.
Make sure that the child is using both sides of their body equally when playing. One side should not be doing all the work. Parents can also help by being active participants in the game and showing their children how to use properly their fine and gross motor skills.
3. Hula Hoops
Your child will need to use their whole body to keep the hula hoop spinning. This will help improve their balance, coordination, and strength. You can also use hula hoops to play games with your child.
It’s done by simply setting up hoops of different sizes and encouraging your child to jump, roll, or crawl through them. To make it more challenging, you can add obstacles or have your child Hoop while balancing on one foot. This will help them to be more active and have fun while they are improving their gross motor skills.
4. Riding Bikes
This is one of the great gross motor skills activities because it requires the use of large muscle groups to pedal and keep balance. Riding bikes is also a great cardiovascular workout and can help improve coordination.
Your child can start with a tricycle or balance bike. This will help your child get used to the motion of pedaling and steering. When your child is sitting on the bike, they should be able to reach the ground with their feet flat.
5. Small Trampoline
Jumping helps to improve coordination and timing. As your child jumps, they must be timing their movements to land correctly. It also requires coordination and balance, two key components of gross motor skills.
As your child jumps, they must use their arms and legs to control their body and keep themselves upright. This helps to develop the muscles used for gross motor skills.
Develop Their Gross Motor Skills
By providing opportunities for your child to practice gross motor skills like swimming, playing tag, hula-hoops, riding a bike or jumping on a trampoline, you can help your child improve. Additionally, you can boost their confidence with proper instruction and feedback. So, encouraging them to practice regularly.
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