Help your kids develop their Gross Motor Skills
My son is an only child, and his day is spent mostly with me inside the house. I am his only playmate and some older cousins. Since I need to do some online works, and I am not confident to let him go outside to play by himself either, we do these things everyday to improve his Gross Motor Skills as advised by his Occupational Therapist.
Jump from one mat to another
Get a few square mats and place it evenly across the floor (make sure that the distance between the mat can be jumped by your kids). On the start of the mat, you can put a box and then let him hop on to each mat with two feet, and when he reaches the end, you can put a few small toys which you can ask your kid to get one piece which he will put at the box on the other end.
You can place the mat in a straight line like this:
or in a zigzag format like this one:
you can also ask him to do this style, it is called close-open (feet).
Prone position
You will ask your kid to position himself/herself to lie flat with the chest down and back up. This will strengthen the muscle in his/her arms. Ask him to be in this position while writing or drawing.
Walk Straight Line
Doing this will improve his balance. you can use an electric tape to make a straight line on your floor (it is easier to remove than masking tape). At the therapy center, they use a piece of wooden plank (bridge style).
Step Over Chairs
If you have two small chairs, then you can do this too. Just like the other activities, you can place toys at the other side that he can pick up and put it at the box on the other side.
Crawl under the table
Just like the Prone Position, this will also help him have a toned arm muscle.
During the weekends, me and my husband bring him to a play area at the malls nearby or to the park if it’s sunny. At the park, his space is wider and he can be with other kids his age too.
How about you, what are the things you and your kids do to improve their gross motor skills?
My kids are very active 🙂 Sometimes when the weather is nice, I drive them to park, ride their bikes and play at the playground after 🙂 Great tips Sis, thank you for sharing 🙂
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when Jared is a bit cooperative, we might try this activity some time. He is such an active boy but on most days, the only activity he does is swiping his cars everywhere 🙂
we also love going to parks, Jared loves the wide open space where he can ran freely! a stray car or two is a very welcome treat, too! 🙂
Great information. Love this post.
When I am working online, my style is to give my little boy toys to assemble and reassemble and also puzzle toys or building blocks. He loves to read books so I give him different books.
Wow! great examples sis! Will try this with my eldest!
gwen used to do those sa therapy nya. now she mostly watches the tv and answers activity books i gave her. mukhang bibili na naman ako. ang bilis na tapusin.
Ykaie and I also do those things!
Walking the line is a Montessori staple. Each of the Casa (pre-Elem) classrooms have lines on them for that purpose.
The others are new…and very cool. If I didn’t know better, you’re a professional trainer in secret 🙂