Gross motor skills involve the physical abilities of the whole body or its larger parts. Their steady development allows children to fully utilize their body's capabilities – to play, perform self-care activities, or engage in sports.
The motor development of a newborn child is relatively low compared to its perceptual abilities, but it progresses extremely dynamically in subsequent phases. Initially, the child's reactions are global – responding to stimuli with uncoordinated movements of the entire body. At just 4 months old, a child begins to intentionally reach out for interesting objects. Over time, locomotive abilities also develop. The child starts with rotations around its axis, crawling, creeping, until achieving full upright posture and learning to walk.
In early preschool age, children continuously refine their locomotive skills. They are highly active – walking, running, jumping, and experimenting with balance. A four-year-old child should already independently climb and descend stairs, placing one foot on each step, walk on tiptoes, and kick a ball. A five-year-old should be able to maintain balance and jump on one foot, as well as catch a thrown ball. A six-year-old, preparing to start school, should be able to change direction while running without bumping into others, perform balance exercises, alternate movement exercises (e.g., left elbow touches right knee), and accurately throw to a target.
Children's motor skills can be effectively shaped through play. It's important to create appropriate conditions and opportunities for physical activity. Below are some movement games for use at home or in a larger group of children:
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Balance Exercises on an Educational Platform: An educational platform allows for building various balance paths, thereby developing not only balance sense but also creativity, spatial orientation, and a sense of agency in the child.
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Standing on One Leg: As this skill develops, you can add more elements, such as standing on an uneven surface (cushion, educational platform), raising one or both hands while maintaining balance.
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The Bridge: Walking across a bridge (drawn or taped line) – taking small steps, foot after foot, on tiptoes.
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'Balance Circle' Game: For a larger group of children. Participants form a circle, holding hands. They stand only on the right leg, then on the left, extend their legs to the center and outside of the circle. The group's task is to maintain balance as long as possible.
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Navigating Obstacle Courses and Educational Paths: Depending on the choice of exercises and equipment, you can train specific motor qualities, such as strength, flexibility, speed, and target body parts.
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Body as a Sculpture: There are two variants of this game. Play music for the child. During the music, they can dance, jump, spin, etc. When the music stops, the child freezes and creates a 'sculpture'. In the second variant, a group of children uses their bodies to represent a chosen or randomly selected number, letter, or geometric shape.
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Target Throw: The child and parent crumple old newspapers into large balls. Then they have a 'snowball fight'. One person holds a bucket. The other tries to throw as many paper balls into it from a certain distance. Then participants switch places.
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Colorful Fields: Attach sheets of paper to the floor (with mounting putty or double-sided tape – they should not slip). Sheets can differ in color, printed letters, numbers, or geometric shapes. Say, for example, "Navigate the path by jumping only on sheets with the letter a."
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Balloon Games: In games involving balloons, the only limit is your imagination. The child, along with a parent or peers, can hit the balloon so that it stays in the air as long as possible and does not touch the ground. In a larger group, place as many balloons on a blanket or sheet as there are participants. Turn on music. Children move to the rhythm, ensuring the balloons don't fall to the ground.
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All Commonly Known Movement Games: Tag, freeze tag, cow, tails, rubber band games, team sports – volleyball, dodgeball, basketball.
Proper development of gross motor skills is fundamental to the harmonious and comprehensive development of a child. It is crucial for parents and teachers to support the child in developing new skills and to seek specialists' opinions if any difficulties are noticed.
Pedagogue Klaudia Sokołowska-Baryś for Marioinex Education
Bibliography:
- Brzezieńska, A. Appelt, K., Ziółkowska B., Psychology of Human Development, Sopot 2016
- Majorczyk M., About the Child at the Start of Preschool Education, or about Developmental Achievements from Early Childhood. [in:] Closer to Preschool, No. 6.2018
- Woynarowska B. Motor Development. [in:] Woynarowska B, Kowalewska A, Izdebski Z, Komosińska K (eds). Biomedical Foundations of Education, Warsaw, 2010
Our Educational Platforms, supporting the development of gross motor skills in children, can be found HERE.
