Upper body strength and gross motor skills

There are many gross motor skills involved in writing.  Efficient control of the larger muscle groups in the neck, shoulder and trunk is necessary to maintain stability in order for the fingers and hands to move to complete the writing task. 

Activities to develop upper body strength and shoulder muscles

• Using long lengths of ribbons to make up and down motions and again, circular ones, as this will help children begin to recreate the shapes needed for accurate letter formation.

• Tearing newspaper – tear straight strips along the length of the newspaper. Children should hold the main newspaper with one hand and tear the strip along the full length with the other. This helps with control as well as using the shoulder to build flexibility. Try this with the other hand too.

• Swings and slides help with postural control.

• Using brooms to sweep leaves and brush soapy water also helps to build shoulder strength and flexibility.

• Take a sheet of newspaper and screw it into a ball with one hand. Adults should either hold the child’s other hand or the child should put it on their head to discourage using both hands at once. Swap hands and try with the other. This activity helps to strengthen muscles in the hands and fingers. The children can then be encouraged to lie flat, support their upper body weight with their arms and flick the ball to someone else.

• Pushing, pulling and rolling large objects such as tyres.

• Climbing activities – climbing ladders, ropes or monkey bars.

• Hopscotch - hopping and jumping require strong gross motor skills, balance and coordination.

• Weight-bearing activities such as wheelbarrow walking, army crawling under netting or material and crawling up hills.

• Balloons and bubbles are a fun way to build gross motor skills, as there is no way to predict where they will go.    

Some simple exercises to encourage joint stability and coordination

• Shoulder Shrugs – hold hands, palms up and shrug the shoulders towards the ears and then down again. Repeat 10 times. 

• Crossing arm wave – hold straight arms above your head and cross them to wave. Repeat 10 times. Lower the arms so that the hands are pointing to the floor and again cross straight arms. Repeat 10 times. 

• Throw aways – hold fisted hands up in front of shoulders or on upper chest. 

• Extend arms in a strong throwing movement. Repeat 10 times. 

• The hug stretch – hands hold opposite elbows. Lift arms above head and lower again. Repeat 10 times. 

As the children’s gross motor skills are showing strength, move on to activities that can support in developing the little muscles in their hands and fingers.