What are Gross Motor Skills?

Adequate strength and body control are two of the most important building blocks that a child can have in order to facilitate gross motor skill development. Children who do not have adequate strength in their core muscles (abdominals and back extensors) lack the stability through their hips and trunk that would allow them to perform precise, controlled movements with their limbs (ex. throwing a ball, skipping, jumping jacks). In addition, children who do not have adequate strength in their legs may have difficulty jumping keeping both feet together, balancing on one foot, hopping, etc. Diminished trunk strength in children often manifests itself in the school setting in an inability to sit upright in a chair or on the floor while participating in classroom activities. These children will often lean on their elbows, slouch forward, curl their legs up underneath them in a chair, or shift their position frequently in an attempt to gain stability through their trunk. This inability to maintain upright posture may then lead to difficulty with important fine motor tasks, such as writing. If a child is relying on support from her hands to hold herself upright, she is unable to free her hand up in order to efficiently write, cut paper or manipulate materials such as turning the pages of a textbook.

Among other things, Physical Therapy in the schools often focuses on the development of gross motor skills in children. These skills include, but are not limited to:

• running
• jumping
• hopping on one foot
• single limb balance
• walking on a line/balance beam
• galloping
• skipping
• coordinated movements such as jumping jacks, scissor jacks, etc.
• ball handling skills including throwing, catching and kicking

So how can I help my child develop his/her gross motor skills?

Active play is one of the best ways parents can help to develop gross motor skills in young children. Encourage your child to get up and move, whether they go ride a bike, run around the yard, or go play on a playground. Every little bit of movement-based play is important! Here are a few ideas for incorporating more movement into your child's day:

• Move through the house like an animal! Have your child bear walk or crab walk down the hall, jump like a frog or silther like a snake. The following YouTube video contains a variety of animal walks that your child may enjoy trying!

• Create an obstacle course in your house! Have your child climb over couch cushions, crawl under the table, jump over pillows, or put a taped line on the floor and have them "walk the tightrope." Get creative! The possibilities are endless.
• Try Yoga! Yoga is a great way for kids to develop flexibility, balance and core strength, while also teaching mindfulness.

• Take your kids outside! In the summer, take them to a playground and encourage them to CLIMB! Climbing is a great way to develop core strength and coordination. (Yes, I'm the mom at the playground who tells her kids to climb UP the slide!) In the winter, bundle up and go play in the snow. Walking through snow provides resistance and challenges balance. Make snowballs and throw them to work on ball skills. Give them a shovel and let them dig - another great way to strengthen their core, arms and legs.

These are just a few suggestions to help your child develop a strong core and build their gross motor skill repertoire. The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be a replacement for a professional diagnosis or therapy. You should always seek the advice of a professional before deciding the right treatment options for your child. Starpoint's Physical Therapy department does not necessarily endorse the use of products or services listed on outside links and resources.