Gross motor co-ordination refers to the co-ordinated movements of the large muscles of the body. These include arms, legs, head, neck, shoulders and more.
Gross motor activities allow children to exercise, strengthen their muscles, develop agility and simultaneously develop perceptual skills needed for learning. It also plays an important role in promoting a positive self image.
Bean bag activities are a fun way for children to develop their gross motor skills.
In addition to the above, bean bags are also used to develop skills such as eye-hand and eye-foot co-ordination, balance, laterality and an awareness of distance and space.
Bean bags do not bounce or roll and are wonderful for encouraging young children to throw and catch. They can also be used in different ways which assists the child to track and focus their eyes.
Bean bag play also assists the child with vocabulary and language development.
One of the first things a child will do with a bean bag is throw and catch; confidence and co-ordination improves with throwing and catching. It also helps the child to learn to track and focus the eyes on an object that is moving. This is an essential skill required in reading and writing.
Other bean bag activities include:
- Balancing activities
- Aim and throw
- Flip and catch
- Relays
- Gathering the bean bags
- Distance throwing
- Musical bean bag games
- Group play
Bean bags are most certainly a fun way to develop essential skills!
Grab your bean bags right now and have loads of fun!!!
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