GROSS MOTOR

Gross motor control refers to the movements of the large muscles of the body.

A baby starts developing gross motor control from birth, beginning with the control of her head and torso, continuing until she has mastered sitting, crawling, standing and eventually walking, running, jumping and the range of activities that an adult can do.

Children learn new gross motor skills by practicing until a particular skill is mastered.

Gross motor skills include:

    * balance – the ability to maintain equilibrium

    * body awareness – for improved posture and control

    * crossing of the mid-line

    * laterality – awareness of the left and right sides of the body

    * major muscle co-ordination

    * spatial orientation – awareness of the body position in space and in relation to other objects or people

As a child develops increasingly better control of the arms and legs, she begins to develop fine motor skills, such as grasping, touching, feeding herself etc.

Without reasonable gross motor skills, children often struggle with the fine motor skills that are required for formal school work.

This article by an occupational therapist, explains how Gross Motor Activities Improve Handwriting

There are other added benefits derived from the physical exercise that practicing gross motor skills provides:

“At this age a child needs several hours of physical activity a day. This helps to build the body, purify the blood, promote good digestion and calm the nerves.”

(Raymond Moore, Homegrown Kids, p113)

“For we are an over wrought generation, running to nerves as a cabbage runs to seed; and every hour spent in the open is clear gain, tending to the increase of brain power and bodily vigour, and to the lengthening of life itself. They who know what it is to have fevered skin and throbbing brain deliciously soothed by the cool touch of air are inclined to make a new rule in life: Never be within doors when you can rightly be without.”

(Charlotte Mason, Home Education, Volume 1)

Make sure your child has plenty of time to run around, climb, play and even do some work, such as gardening or helping with other chores out of doors.

Even if you are a city dweller, find a park, a vacant lot or other suitable place where you can go and get enjoy some physical exercise. Even in cold weather, dress up warmly, go out and develop your child's gross motor skills, while enjoying the outdoors.

“In this time of extraordinary pressure, educational and social, perhaps a mother’s first duty to her children is to secure for them a quiet and growing time, a full six years of passive receptive life, the waking part of it for the most part spent out in the fresh air.”

(Charlotte Mason, Home Education, Volume 1)

Besides the physical benefits of being outdoors, for the purpose of physical activity, other valuable learning opportunities may also arise as your children encounter objects in nature or other subjects that captivate their attention.

From about three years of age, your child will be ready to make good use ofplayground equipment that is designed to use her large muscles vigorously and develop gross motor skills. Don’t deprive her of climbing – just help her to do it safely and within limits. Climbing is particularly good for stimulating a child’s sense of laterality.

Country living usually provides small trees and fences for this activity, but city parks or playgrounds with a jungle gym or slide will also achieve the same. Encourage your child to use and many of the apparatus at a play park as possible.