The Toddler Games

Gross motor skills control refers to the movements of the large muscles of the body. Gross motor skills are the abilities required in order to control the large muscles of the body such as those in the arms and legs . Gross motor skill is used for walking, running, climbing, sitting, crawling, and other activities. These skills are built upon, improved and better controlled throughout early childhood.

The gross motor skills refers to the abilities usually acquired during infancy and early childhood as part of a child’s motor development. By the time they reach two years of age or toddler age, almost all children or toddlers are able to stand up, walk, jump, run, etc. These movements come from large muscle groups and whole body movement.

The Gross motor skills and fine motor skills go hand in hand. They should both be developed simultaneously and worked on with your toddler. Toddler games that encourage gross motor skills are definitively encouraged in your child’s development.
The Gross motor skills include:

• balance – the ability to maintain equilibrium
• body awareness – for improved posture and control
• crossing of the mid-line
• laterality – awareness of the left and right sides of the body
• major muscle co-ordination
• spatial orientation – awareness of the body position in space and in relation to other objects or people.

Since the gross motor skills can be learnt and improved with practice, children need plenty of opportunities to exercise these skills.

The developing of gross motor skills control is starting from birth, marked by control of head and torso. This developing is still continuing until she has mastered sitting, crawling, standing, walking, running, jumping and the range of activities that an adult can do.

Children learn new gross motor skills by practicing until a particular skill is mastered.

The Toddler Games that can be match with the gross motor skills are:Animal Actors, Baby Basketball, Beach-Ball Catch, Beanbag Bowling, Bubble Busters, Cardboard Cottages, Clap, Clap, Clap, Copycat, Footstep Fun, Head to Toes, Hey Mr. Knickerbocker, On Target!, Pass the Ball, The Pillow Course, Pony Rides, Ribbon Rings, Scarf Tricks, Toddler Parade, Train Trips, Turn Around, Water Targets.

Written By: Jenny Fitzgerald – The Toddler Games