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Gross motor skills and postural skills refer to the ability of a person to use the large muscles of the body to move and interact with the physical environment around them. These skills are the foundation on which many functional skills are developed and can impact the development of play and independence. Difficulties with gross motor and postural skills can lead to delays in everyday skills such as bike riding, running, climbing, ball skills and self-care. Gross motor and postural skills also support the ability of the child to move safely throughout their environment, interact and maintain endurance for play with peers, sit in various positions such as on the floor for “Morning Meeting” and support proper growth of joints and muscles. Some signs that your student may be having difficulty with gross motor or postural skills include; clumsy or uncoordinated movements, tripping or falling often, avoidance of play activities, bumping into objects or people and problems acquiring new motor skills, such as throwing or catching a ball, Hop Scotch, or jumping rope.
Activities To Develop Gross Motor and Postural Skills:
Activities To Develop Gross Motor and Postural Skills:
Identifying and moving parts of the body- developing awareness of our bodies and the ability to move body parts in isolation are a very important foundation skill. Games and songs such as:
- “Head Shoulders, Knees and Toes”- Try it with your eyes closed, substitute other parts of the body.
- “Hokey, Pokey”- This is a wonderful way to work on “left”, “right” discrimination and practice controlled movements of body parts in isolation.
- “Simon Says” - Encourage your child to reach across the midline of their body, reach overhead, balance on one foot and squat to the floor. They also pretend to “do” an action such as “kick a ball”, “swing a bat”, “ jump over a stream”.
- “Going on a Bear Hunt”- This song and game helps children, copy, sequence and plan movement.
Balance Activities-
- Use painter's tape to make “lines” on the floor and encourage your child to walk on the line, one foot in front of the other.
- Play on a balance beam- This can be as simple as a sidewalk curb or a wooden 2X4. Most playgrounds have a balance beam for this purpose. Challenge your child to try it holding your hand at first, then when they can do it with confidence, fade the support.
- Standing on one foot- this can be made into a challenge game, or be incorporated into a game such as “Statue” where the student must copy freeze and copy another person.
Get down on the floor!- Have your child work on a soft or padded surface and practice:
- Rolling like a “log” leading with the head and without using arms to assist.
- Animal Walks: Crab Walk, Bear Walk, Snake Slither, Frog Jump, Donkey Kick
- Wheelbarrow Walking- Hold your child’s feet and lower legs and have them walk a short distance on their hands. Increase the distance as they become stronger.
- Crawling- Have your child crawl to get items (such as a puzzle piece or clothing items).
Jumping- Jumping on two feet and also on one foot at a time improves core body strength and helps to develop the muscles in the foot. It can also improve balance.
- Trampoline- whether it is a mini trampoline or a big one, kids love to jump! Practice counting skills, abc’s or spelling as you jump.
- Hop Scotch- this is a fabulous game that never gets old. Use sidewalk chalk to create your own, at your child’s ability level.
- Skipping- a jumping activity that incorporates motor planning and bilateral ( both sides) coordination of the body.
Swinging- Teach and encourage your child to pump themselves on a playground swing.
Hanging and swinging from an overhead bar or rope- “Can you hang on until we count to five?”
Ball Play- Start each skill with a large (10” or larger), then as your child gets better at a skill use a smaller ball such as a tennis or racquetball.
- Rolling back and forth between you.
- Bounce Catch- Have your child try to bounce the ball to you, then bounce it back for them to catch. Start at a short distance at first.
- Kick the ball back and forth between you. It is OK for your child to start with the ball stationary at first. Kicking a rolling ball is next.
- Throw the ball into a bucket or basket ( or other target).
- Dribbling- this is a higher level skill, but important to practice. Cue your child to keep their hand “soft” and use fingertips. Keep the ball no higher than the waist. Start standing still first before asking your child to move while performing this skill.
Obstacle Course- Help your child create an obstacle course out of items around the house to go over, under, around between. Include hopping, rolling animal walks and other skills you would like them to practice. Use the playground as an obstacle course. Decide what parts of the playground you will use, the skill and in what order.
General Sports and Exercise activities- Bike riding, Walking, Hiking, Bowling, T-ball /baseball, Soccer, Dancing, Jump-rope, 4-Square, Kickball , Volleyball, Playing Tag
Whole Body Activities-
Yoga
Zumba
Martial Arts
Dancing
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