Gross Motor Skills

WHAT ARE GROSS MOTOR SKILLS?

Gross motor skills are the skills that enable children to stand, walk, run, jump, hop, skip, swing, climb – all those everyday movements that we coordinate with our core muscles and the big muscles in our bodies. Gross motor skills also include hand-eye coordination skills such as ball skills, riding a bike and swimming.

Gross Motor Skills are also vitally important for developing everyday self care skills such as dressing (standing on one leg to put pants on, for example) and being able to maintain adequate posture for table top activities such as eating and school work, and navigating around the everyday environment. If gross motor skills are not properly developed, there will be a follow on effect in the ability to effectively participate in sporting activities, and in fine motor skills at school (such as drawing, cutting and writing) which can impact a child’s academic development, and can also affect a child’s self esteem.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD IS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES WITH THEIR GROSS MOTOR SKILLS?

Children with gross motor difficulties may:

• show a lack of interest or behave in a ‘silly’ manner to avoid physical activities
• show poor coordination
• tire easily or rush through physical tasks to mask difficulty or fatigue
• become anxious about school sports days or carnivals

We offer assessment and therapy to address gross motor difficulties. Contact us today to chat to us about your concerns and make an appointment.