Human beings are designed to move. Our bodies thrive on movements and excitation. Movement stimulation and physical activity is important for all of us, but it is particularly crucial for the developing brain of a child. It not only keeps us physically healthy but also contributes to good mental health. Aren’t we chirpier and calmer the days that we have been physically active?
Moreover, versatility in physical activities results in fantastic gross motor development. Gross motor development is the process of learning how to use large muscles in the body to move. So any and every kind of whole-body movement experience that utilizes large muscles of arms, legs and torso contribute to gross motor development. In short, when children are physically active, they are “working”; they are learning new skills, developing their brains and discovering the world around them.
The first six years of a child’s life are filled with developmental milestones and hence they are often called the building blocks for life. The skills that a child learns during this stage lays the foundation upon which finer skills will continue building. And hence, it is crucial we pay attention to the development of gross motor skills in the formative years.
Strong gross motor development in a child also sets a solid foundation for performing fine motor skills efficiently, which has a massive role in academic learning and school readiness. Here are some areas that have a direct connection with how developed your gross motor skills are. One look at the table will answer your basic query - why do gross motor skills matter?
How do Adult-Led Activities Help?
Adults can assist their children’s gross motor skill development by being active role models and by engaging in active play with them from a young age. Through free play, children move only in ways they know. However, through adult-led structured play, they get introduced to movement experiences they may not have tried on their own. When an adult introduces the child to new ways of movement during structured playtime, the movement vocabulary of the child is enhanced, which the child then applies during free play. This way an adult can influence the child massively to his benefit.
How Does BizeeBuds Help?
We all have busy lives and sometimes it gets really difficult to find the time to do things with our kids in spite of knowing how important they are. Sometimes we lack the knowledge about activities that should be done and other times we are unable to keep up with finding the activities to do consistently.
If you agree, click here to see how we can help.
