Physical - Gross and Fine Motor Skills
There are different ways that you can aid your child's physical needs. We have split these into Gross and Fine Motor Skills. Gross Motor Skills are those activities that aid the use of our larger muscles such as running, walking, skipping. Fine Motor Skills are those activities that aid the use of our smaller muscles such as writing, holding, cutting.
Gross Motor Skills
Some activities that could be used for your child's Gross Motor Skills are:
Oak National Academy – The Oak National Academy has an area dedicated to children with addition needs - this has a section that includes physical development.
Obstacle Courses: Create indoor or outdoor obstacle courses using household items like cushions, hula hoops, cones, or tunnels. Include activities that require crawling, jumping, balancing, and throwing.
Dance Parties: Turn on music and encourage free dancing or teach simple dance routines to improve coordination and balance.
Hopscotch and Jumping Games: Draw a hopscotch grid with chalk on the ground or use tape indoors for hopping activities. Practice jumping jacks or skipping.
Balancing Acts: Set up balance beams using tape on the floor or create a makeshift beam with a low piece of wood. Have children walk along it forwards, backward, or sideways to improve balance.
Ball Games: Play catch, kick a ball, or practice throwing at a target to enhance hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
Nature Walks and Scavenger Hunts: Take walks in parks or nature trails, incorporating activities like collecting leaves, balancing on fallen logs, or hopping over rocks.
Bike Riding or Scooter Activities: Teach children to ride a bike or scooter, which helps develop coordination, balance, and strength.
Animal Walks: Pretend to be different animals—bear walks, crab walks, frog jumps, etc. These movements improve strength, coordination, and body awareness.
Gross Motor Playgrounds: Visit playgrounds with equipment like monkey bars, swings, slides, and climbing structures to encourage climbing, swinging, and hanging.
Hula Hooping: Use hula hoops for children to spin around their waist, arms, or legs, promoting coordination and core strength.
Wheelbarrow Walks: Hold your child's legs while they walk on their hands, simulating a wheelbarrow. This activity strengthens arms, shoulders, and core muscles.
Remember to make these activities playful and enjoyable rather than focusing solely on skill development. Incorporate elements of fun and encouragement to keep children engaged and motivated to practice their gross motor skills.
Fine Motor Skills
Some activities that could be used for your child's Fine Motor Skills are:
Dance Mat BBC Bitesize have some great activities and here is one of them!
Playdough Creations: Rolling, pinching, and shaping playdough helps strengthen hand muscles. Add tools like cookie cutters, plastic knives or rolling pins for added fine motor practice.
Stringing Beads: Use large beads or pasta with holes for children to thread onto a string or shoelace. This activity improves hand-eye coordination and finger dexterity.
Puzzle Play: Encourage children to play with puzzles of varying difficulty levels, promoting hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and manipulation of small pieces.
Cutting and Tracing: Provide child-safe scissors and practice cutting lines or shapes on paper. Use stencils for tracing and colouring to refine hand movements.
Finger Painting or Drawing: Use fingers to paint or draw shapes, letters, or lines. This enhances finger control and precision.
Building with Blocks: Use small building blocks or Lego to create structures, encouraging precision and coordination in placing and stacking.
Threading Activities: Offer lacing cards, where children weave strings through punched holes, or use pipe cleaners to thread beads, promoting hand-eye coordination and finger control.
Pouring and Transferring: Provide containers and small objects like rice, beans, or water for children to practice pouring and transferring from one container to another, refining hand movements.
Fine Motor Tools: Introduce tweezers, tongs, or chopsticks for activities like picking up small objects, sorting items, or moving them from one place to another.
Cooking and Baking: Involve children in simple kitchen tasks like stirring, pouring, and using utensils to strengthen hand muscles and coordination.
Scissor Skills Workbooks: Use age-appropriate workbooks that focus on scissor skills, tracing, and drawing to improve fine motor abilities.
Writing Activities: Practice writing letters, numbers, or shapes using different writing tools like pencils, crayons, or markers to enhance fine motor control.
Remember to make these activities engaging and enjoyable, and avoid pushing children beyond their frustration level. Encourage persistence and praise effort rather than focusing solely on the end result. Gradually increasing difficulty levels as children progress can help challenge and develop their fine motor skills.