teaching children gross motor skills?

Question

im a freshman in college working on my degree in early childhood education and our teacher wants us to do activities that help children develop their gross motor skills. she wants us to find things around the house to make them into objects that would help the children develop these skills. anyone have any suggestions or websites that give ideas? thanks :)

Answer 1

When you say gross motor skills I assume you mean large muscles groups of the body. Gross motor skills are things like walking, jumping, hopping, ball handling, climbing etc.

These skills take time to develop are deliberate and controlled movements requiring muscle development. In addition, the skeletal system (bones) must be strong enough to support the movement and weight with each new activity. Once these systems are met, children learn new physical skills by practising them until each skill is mastered.

Not to be confused with fine motor skills, such as drawing, cutting, writing.

Some of the activities I used to use as a gymnastic coach was
Balancing - walking along a low beam (on the ground) or a flat plank.
- walking on toes, arms out for balance
- standing on one foot, holding on to a chair or bar

Jumping - jumping on the spot
- jumping over things, such as low beam, initially holding child's hand
- jump from one mat to another as skill develops

Hopping - hop on one foot, initially holding on to chair or bar

Galloping

Skipping

Throwing - use soft light balls or soft objects (safety)

Catching - use large bright coloured balls or soft objects (safety)

Bouncing - large coloured balls, for ease of bounce and catch, gradually going smaller as they develop the bounce and catch.

Kicking - large coloured balls

Climbing - climbing frames, climbing steps, climbing over, under and through objects of different sizes and textures.

Rhythm - move whole to music, as they develop balance start separate body parts e.g swings arms out, foot out (Hokey poky song is great for this activity)

Sorry this is a rather basic over view of what I taught, I have also included some web sites that maybe of some use too.

Good luck

Answer 2

For gross motor skills activities are :
1. Catch and throw balls .
2. Walking on straight line.(marked using binding tape)
3. Kicking balls
4. Jumping on bean bag/cushion etc
5. Crawling under chair/table

Answer 3

You can set up an obstacle course using pots and pans or other items in your house. We do a very simple song called Walk Around the Chair. The children love it. Here is how it goes: (Walk, Walk, walk around the chair, walk, walk, walk around the chair. Freeze! Go the other way. Walk, walk, walk around the chair. Walk, walk, walk around the chair.) Now its another childs turn. We then substitute other motions into the song like jump, jump, jump around the chair. We hop, crawl, skate, fly etc. We go through once with teachers picking motions then go through again with children naming a motion and doing it. One of the most important things to remember when teaching gross motor is to teach crossing over the mid line. This is the imagery line going down the center of the body. In order for a person to cross this they have to use the opposite side of their brain. We do this as an attention getter. Teacher calls for "all eyes on me!" Then start doing a motion hoping the children will copy you. I start by touching the opposite shoulder with my right hand. Switch motions often to keep children interested. Once everyone is doing the motions you can move on with the next activity. I have children who are now the leader and who understand the mid line. My class is 3 and 4 years old. There is a great music series out now that gets kids moving. It is called I am moving with a character called Choosy.

Answer 4

You can go to www.babycenter.com or www.parentcenter.com there are different activities on their you can find to help children with their gross motor skills.

coloring, building with blocks, books help with gross motor skills, jump ropes, hula hoops, playing with balls, like kicking, rolling or throwing, stirring a pitcher of juice, helping to serve their foods. I am working on my early childhood degree, I have finished all of the classes you may be in so hit me up on email and I am more than willing to help.

Answer 5

Have children stack objects like books or pots. In addition, yoiu can have the children sort and stack the books in any group they want. This will give you insight into their thinking. Are they sorting by size? Color? Others?

Check out this book: The Ultimate Preschool Playbook by Dorothy Einon.

It has lots of activities for two to five year olds. Good luck.

Answer 6

Check out this website for suggestions:
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/gross-motor-activities-for-toddlers.html

Answer 7

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Answer 8

anyone who has ever changed a diaper knows a child already has GROSS motor skills

Answer 9

Put a bunch of small household objects into a pillow case. Then ask a child to reach in, and without looking, identify each object. They should be able to identify each object, just from touch.

Answer 10

Obstacle courses, mini trampolines, hula hoops placed on the floor to jump in, tubes to call through, etc..