How to Gain Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skills are the use of large muscles in the body. These skills are developed at certain ages starting from infancy, and can be marked throughout adolescence. Delays -- such as with sitting, crawling and walking -- can happen in babies; and coordination difficulties, such as when riding a bike or catching a ball, can be detected in older children. When this happens, there are activities that can be done at home or with a physical therapist to help the child gain better gross motor skills.

Instructions

Be Proactive

• 1

  Watch to see that children meet their milestones.

  Identify the problem area. Be aware of baby and child milestones and take notice if a child isn't meeting the criteria. Write down concerns and start tracking progress -- or lack of.

• 2

  Gross motor skills can be helped in two ways.

  Research gross motor skills and the two main therapies. The modular approach works to improve a specific difficulty in the child. Difficulty catching a ball, for example, would lend itself to a step-by-step intervention in showing and practicing how to throw until improvement is made. The global approach is used by assuming the motor difficulty comes from sensory integration problems. This approach focuses on how the child manages his body, processes information and solves problems before the gross motor skill is addressed.

• 3

  Work with a therapist to devise the best plan.

  Make an appointment with an occupational therapist licensed to evaluate children. The child will be tested on all aspects of her motor functions. Find out if the child needs intensive help with a therapist or if there are activities you can do at home to help improve the problem(s).

Provide Help

• 4

  Walking across beams improves balance.

  Set up a balance beam using two bricks and a plank of wood. Have the toddler or child walk across. As he masters this, use a smaller piece of wood. Any low-to-the-ground ledge will work.

• 5

  Use a hula hoop many ways to increase motor skills.

  Play hoop games. Small children can chase after the hula hoop and try to knock it down. Older children can work toward running through the hoop while it is still moving. Have a child hold one end with the other end touching the ground. Work on jumping over the part touching the ground.

• 6

  Hopping takes coordination and balance.

  Hop. Hopscotch, hopping up and down stairs or hopping from step to step are ways to gain gross motor skills. Jumping by acting like an animal, for example, allows children to waddle like a penguin or spring like a kangaroo. These activities are fun for the child, giving instant self-confidence when the act is done correctly.

• 7

  Balls provide fun while exercising gross motor muscles.

  Play catch by throwing lightweight, soft balls of all sizes. Sit across from each other with legs apart. Roll the ball back and forth.

• 8

  Have the child use his arm by swatting at bubbles.

  Blow bubbles for children to pop. This exercises the child's hand-eye coordination. The child will learn how to move fast and pop the bubbles before they hit the ground.