When studying child development, you will hear the terms “gross motor” and “fine motor” skills frequently. Gross motor skills are sometimes referred to large muscle skills. This all means the muscles used to move around the world and the muscles used for physical activity. Some examples are running, climbing, kicking, and jumping.
Obesity among Children
Awareness is growing about large percentage of children who are becoming overweight in American society. Type II diabetes and heart problems are becoming too common among children under the age of 18. It is important to stress the need for physical activity beginning in the younger years. Habits started now usually last a lifetime. When you ask most children what they want for Christmas, children usually answer with the newest and best video game system. It is sad to hear a young child say “it is boring to play outside”. These types of attitudes need to be changed before it is too late.
Develop Good Habits Early
Gross motor skills in children are probably among the easiest skills to help develop, unless the child is handicapped or has some sort of other development delay hindering use of large muscle groups. Children must be given a large play area with plenty of safe equipment to use. A large number of day care centers and preschools are now providing large indoor spaces for children to use during cold months or when it is raining. These centers' attention to the need of exercise and physical activity is very impressive. Although children will play without prompting from an adult, it would be great to offer the children a wide variety of teacher lead activities. Here are some suggestions.
- Everyone knows the game of “Red Rover”, right? Make variations of the game. Make necklaces of shapes and colors for the children to wear and instead of saying the name of the child to come over name off a color or shape. There are endless possibilities to the variety of things that can be used for this game.
- If the center has riding toys such as tricycles available for the children, make an obstacle course of blocks or boxes. Children also love making streets and building to take the riding toys through.
- Have the children mirror each other. Either stand in pairs or one child in front of a small group. One does something such as hop on one foot and the other children mimic him/her.
Any activity that gets children moving is a good one! Movement along with good nutrition is essential for the future of a child. Be a good example for children around you and don't be afraid to initiate play.
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