Sukla Dutta

Movement is important for

children's
development and learning
What is Motor Development?

• The development of action and

coordination of one’s limbs.

• The development of strength,

posture control, balance and
perceptual skills.
 Principles of Motor Development

 Neural and muscular maturation

 Readiness of the child

 Predictable pattern

 Individual differences
 What Influences Motor Development ?

 Maturation
- From central to peripheral
- From head to toe
 Environment
- Growth, strength, nutrition
- Motivation
 Practice
- New skills build on prior abilities
- Motor pathways are refined through use
How will these promote other skills ?

 Activities that require good control over the whole

body are useful for ‘gymnastic’ skills later

 Activities that require strength and speed help in

sports skills and games

 Activities emphasizing rhythm lead to skills in dancing

 MOTOR COORDINATION

Gross Motor Skills Fine Motor Skills

Gross Motor Skills
Gross Motor Milestones
(2 – 5 Years of Age) : GROSS MOTOR BEHAVIOUR

48 months :
May ascend a ladder by leading with alternate feet. Broad jumps
approximately 0.61 metre. Balances on one foot for 8 seconds. Is able to hop
on one foot. Catches objects that have been thrown. Jumps in place with
two feet.

52 months :
Displays highly synchronous walking. Descends stairs by leading with
alternate feet.

56 months :
Descends ladder by leading with alternate feet. Is able to hop seven or more
steps on one foot. Throws 0.08 metre ball 3.05 metre.

5 years :
Is beginning to skip. Walks backward heel to toe. Walks like an adult.
Gallops. Hops 10 or more steps on one foot. Throws a 0.23 metre ball
approximately 3.05 metre.
 Instructional Objectives

 It refines a child’s gross motor( large muscle ) skills.

 Body awareness – for improved posture and control crossing the

mid-line-laterity, i.e., awareness of the left and right sides of the
body

 The child also encounters objects in nature or something which

captivates his or her attention

 The child develops the ability to maintain equilibrium

 Major muscle coordination – spatial orientation – awareness of

body position in space and in relation to other object and people

 Acquires vocabulary during activities like backward, forward,

sideways, etc.
Play is Learning……….
 Walking :

• In and out of circles, hoops, tyres,

outlines

• Along a line(chalk), piece of string,

etc.

• Using a rope or string to guide

children through a maze Group of children
walking in circle
holding hands

• Walking to different music tempos

 Balancing:
• Walk along a chalk line, string
line or narrow board

• Climbing steps/stairs/step
ladders without hand support

• Walking on knees with hands

girl balancing school books on head
in the air

• Walking up an inclined plank

with confidence and speed
 Running:

• Around an obstacle
course

• On the spot/on the toes

• With the hands on head/

hips/ behind back etc

School children running in a game

 Jumping:

• Jump up to touch/reach suspended

objects, leaves, balloons, toys etc.

• Stand up and jump from shape to shape

• Jump on mattresses, tyres etc

Child jumping over a hurdle

 Creeping , Crawling, Rolling:

• Treasure hunt – crawl or creep to find hidden objects

• “Follow the Leader”

 Swinging:

• Swing in a standing position without support

 Hopping:
• Hop into/out of hoops

• Hop along stepping stones

• Make patterns on the ground of

shapes, colours, dots. Hop on
one colour, dot etc
 Rhythmic Movement:

• Clapping hands according to the beat

• Clapping/stopping with music variations

• Singing and performing action songs

• Swinging rhythmically
 Throwing:
• Children sit in two rows and throw a
ball in opposite directions

• Make a relay race

 Catching:

• Increase the catching

distance gradually
 Kicking:
 Balloons of different sizes
 Aim at a target- set up target areas for children to kick
at, eg., bulls eye
 Skipping:

 Around objects

 In circle games

 To music with variety of rhythms

 REMEMBER

 Large muscles develop before smaller ones

 Thus, gross motor development is the

foundation for developing skills in other areas

 Developmental Objectives attained
from Gross Motor Skills…………
• Inculcate team spirit

• Increases perseverance

• Increases body coordination

• Increases ability to balance

• Children learn to wait for their turn

• Increases coordination

• Develops vocabulary
SUMMARY………..
There are many different materials and
activities that can be utilized to help young
children develop large motor skills.
Our responsibility is simply to provide them
with a variety of materials, facilities and
opportunities that promote development in this
area through daily activities……………
 What are Fine Motor Skills
• Developing control over the movement of
finer muscles in particular the finger and
wrist muscles

• Developing hand-eye coordination

Hierarchy and
Progression of
Typical Fine Motor
Development
Instructional Objectives
Ocular Motor Control – The ability of the eyes to follow
and focus on an object in the field of vision as required.

Hand – Eye Coordination – The ability to execute

activities with the hands, guided by the eyes requiring
accuracy in placement, direction and spatial awareness

Foot-Eye Coordination – The ability to execute action

with the feet, guided by the eyes

Manual Dexterity – The ability to accurately manipulate

the hands and fingers for neat handwriting, drawing,
typing skills, etc.
 Hand Development Milestones

• Development of arches in hand

• Development of wrist extension that supports skilled finger movements

• Development of an awareness of the – “skill” side of the hand

• Development of an open index finger –thumb web space – O

• Development of skill in the small muscles contained in the hand

Develop creative skills while having fun…
 Threading:

Helps children learn….

• Small muscle control

• Hand-eye coordination

• To put objects in proper

sequence
  Tearing, cutting, pasting :

Helps children learn….

• Finger coordination

• Hand-eye coordination
 Drawing, colouring, painting
Helps children learn….

• Finger muscle development

• Hand-eye coordination

• Creative expression

• how to use pictures and

symbols to represent ideas
 Sorting, pattern making

Helps children learn/develop….

• Hand-eye coordination

• Observation power

• To use their imagination

  Clay Activity
Helps children learn….

• to tone manipulative skills

• to use their imagination

• to put ideas into shapes

• to develop artistic skills

  Printing
Helps children learn….

• Finger coordination

• Hand-eye coordination
The Sequence of Writing

Like other areas of your child’s development, prewriting

skills follow a predictable sequence in this order :

• Scribbling

• Imitating

• Copying
Developmental Objectives attained from
Fine Motor Skills

• Improves hand-eye coordination

• Improves foot-eye coordination

• Increases observation power

• Enhances finger muscle development

• Fosters creative expression

• Enhances the ability to recognize unseen objects using

the sense of touch