Gross Motor Skills For Preschoolers

Gross Motor Skills Defined

Gross motor skills are movements which use the large muscles in the body. Examples of gross motor skills are: walking, jumping, reaching, skipping and maintaining balance. Large muscle groups are strengthened mostly through a preschooler’s play. The gross motor skills your preschooler is building now will impact performance in all motor skills later.

Gross Motor Skills Importance in Kindergarten

Kindergarteners spend a great deal of time at a desk doing pencil and paper tasks. In order to succeed in school, kindergarteners must be able to maintain an upright position. If they are unable to stay in this position, participating in classroom activities and developing writing skills will be challenging.

How to Develop Strong Gross Motor Skills

Spend time outside daily. The only way to build strength in muscles is to exercise them. Allow preschoolers time to run, climb, and skip. Practice balancing by standing on one leg or walking on a balance beam. Demonstrate the skill for your preschooler.

Allow children to play at their developmental level. If a preschooler is not yet able to balance on one leg, give them time to grow into this skill. Most preschoolers will eventually develop the necessary skills with time and opportunity. The pace at which your preschooler develops is unique to her, so allow the necessary time.