Grade PreK • Physical Well-Being and Motor Development How to Support Your Child

Grade PreK Physical Well-Being and Motor Development

How To Support Your Child

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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
  • Superman pose (on stomach, on floor with arms and legs lifted off the ground)
  • Rolling up like a ball (lay on back, bring legs and arms into stomach, wrapping arms around legs, and bring head into knees)
  • Swinging on playground swings
  • Balancing on an exercise ball (while holding onto to adult)
  • Riding a tricycle
  • Crawling through an obstacle course (such as through a tunnel or under the table or around chairs)
  • Stretching arms out wide with an exercise band
  • Row Row Your Boat Hold each other's hands, while facing each other, and push and pull back and forth)
  • Tug of war (i.e., pull a pool noodle or jump rope)
  • Lifting heavy objects (i.e., bag of rice, boy of toys, crate of books)
  • Vacuuming (push and pull – with an adult!)
  • Setting the table (pushing in / pulling out chairs at the table, carrying things to the table)
  • Pushing cars around a big track or dining room table while on hands and knees
  • Using sidewalk chalk
  • Using a squirt bottle
  • Playing with squirt toys (bath/pool toys
  • Playing with Play-doh or clay (roll the Play-doh to form shapes and different letters)
  • Using clothespins
  • Cutting with scissors (old cards/newspapers/paint sample cards from home improvement stores)
  • Drawing/painting at an easel or with paper on a wall
  • Holding the hose to water plants, flowers, or the grass
  • Writing/Drawing with your index finger in sand, flour, shaving cream, sugar etc.
  • Building structures with blocks or Legos

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.

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