Grade PreK • Physical Well-Being and Motor Development How to Support Your Child
The future health and well-being of a child is directly related to the physical well-being and motor development of the child. Fine and gross motor skills impact the ability of a child to attend to academic instruction, participate in gross motor activities with peers which promotes social foundation skills, participate in fine motor activities throughout his/her school day (writing, drawing, painting, cutting etc.), and increasing self-confidence by increasing independence with self-care tasks (taking coat on/off, hanging up belongings on a hook, putting papers in a cubbie, opening lunch items etc.). Providing opportunities for your child to participate in gross and fine motor skills promotes a strong solid foundation in motor development.
Tips For Fine Motor Development
A stronger core will reduce fatigue during table top activities. A stronger core can help children develop stronger shoulders and arms. This can then support hand development and finger strength. Suggested activities to help strengthen each area can be found in the table below.
Core/ Truck | Shoulders | Arms | Fingers |
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Tips for Gross Motor Development
- Play outside with your child.
- Visit a playground, swing, climb, slide, etc.
- Go swimming, or play in the snow.
- Play games that require different types of movement (such as running, jumping, hoping, skipping etc.).
- Play games with balls, allow your child to kick, throw, and catch.
- Dance.
- Sing songs such as "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" and other movement songs.
- Make an obstacle course.
Tips for Self Care
Allow your child to increase their independence in everyday activities.
- Have your child attempt to put their coat or shoes on by themselves.
- Allow your child to pick out their own clothes.
- Decrease the amount of help you give your child when getting them dressed (e.g, if you put their shirt on their head, then have them put their arms in. Once they can do that then open the head hole of their shirt, but have them put it on and then put their arms in).
- Allow your child to help brush their teeth (e.g., squeeze the tooth paste, put the tooth brush into the holder).
- Have your child help with chores (e.g., let your child put laundry from the washing machine into the dryer, or from the dryer into a basket, push the laundry basket from one location to the next; let your child help set the table, or clean up after a meal; have your child water plants, or feed a pet; allow your child to help you vacuum, sweep, or mop).
- Have your child clean their room by putting their toys/things away.