GROSS MOTOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Gross motor co-ordination refers to the co-ordinated movements of the large muscles of the body. These include the arms , legs, head , neck and shoulders among others.
Gross motor activities allow children to exercise , strengthen their muscles , develop levels of agility and simultaneously develop perceptual skills which are needed for learning.
The development of good gross motor skills helps a child to develop strength, co-ordination, balance and posture. This in turn allows them to navigate with ease.
When a child participates in active play that requires the use of gross motor skills, it also allows them to interact with other children, build social skills and they also learn co-operation skills depending on the activity.
Developing good gross motor skills also plays an important role in the child attaining a sense of accomplishment which also assists in boosting his / her self confidence. Thus it helps to promote a positive self image.
There are many ways to support and promote gross motor development.
Parents and teachers should provide many oppurtunities for active play the likes of which include running, climbing, ball games, bean bag activities, skipping, dancing. Movement activities should be included in daily activities as much as possible.
It is important also to remember that the activities that are being offered should be age appropriate.
Another crucial point is to provide positive reinforcement and praise for effort because the aim is to encourage the child and not to demotivate.
Combining different parts of the body while moving around is also an essential part of the development of gross motor skills. Integrated muscle co-ordination includes hand–hand co-ordination, eye- foot co-ordination, foot-foot co-ordination and eye-hand-foot co-ordination.
To move around and be physically active is part of being a child and should be encouraged as much as possible. Gross motor activities assists children to get rid of excess energy, relieves tension and exercises their muscles. With this in mind, gross motor development exercises should be enjoyable and not be viewed with dread by a child.