As a parent, seeing your child develop and grow can be one of the most rewarding experiences. From their first steps to new words added to their vocabulary, understanding how they learn and developing skills is an essential part of parenting.
One area in which you may want to focus on more is motor skills development – these are the abilities children need to control body movements so that they can interact with their environment successfully. If you’re looking for ways to help improve your child’s motor skill development, then read on. Here are five creative ways you can promote healthy motor skill growth in kids!
1. Encourage movement
Kids learn best through play and exploration, which is why providing your child with a safe and engaging space to explore is one of the most important ways you can encourage movement for improved motor skills.
The early learning years are a critical time for kids to develop foundational motor skills such as running, jumping, and throwing that will benefit them throughout their lives. This process starts at home — if kids see adults or siblings moving around or active, they’ll have a go and try it themselves. To help foster this kind of activity, create opportunities for kids to move around in age-appropriate ways and don’t forget to join in on their fun!
2. Practice balancing
A strong foundation of motor skills is an important part of kids’ early learning. It’s essential to help kids develop healthy balance from an early age.
One fun way to do this is to give kids the opportunity to practice standing on one foot and walking along a tightrope, as these activities can help promote stability and coordination. Include things like balancing books on their head or speed walking – the options are endless and your kids will have a blast! Taking the time to teach them how to balance in different ways offers you a great opportunity to bond with your kids, while also helping them develop physical abilities that will last a lifetime.
3. Improve coordination
As children grow and develop, it is important to engage them in activities to promote physical development, such as improving coordination.
Playing catch or building towers with blocks are great starting points – each activity provides kids with an opportunity to exercise hand-eye coordination while they play. Not only will these activities keep kids entertained, they can also give kids a head start in early learning by teaching them skills such as depth perception, balance and motor control.
4. Practice counting and identifying colors
One of the most important early learning tasks kids can engage in is counting and recognizing colors. This can be done with simple activities like asking your kids to match different colors or count objects placed in front of them.
As kids practice, their motor skills improve – kids can better control the way they interact with their environment and build on their hand-eye coordination. Research has found that kids’ ability to recognize colors is related to improved spatial performance skills like mathematics, reading ability, and social connective tasks, making this simple activity incredibly valuable for your kid’s long-term development.
5. Get creative with everyday items
Getting kids engaged with their early learning is important, and coming up with creative ways to do that can be fun!
One sure-fire way to encourage kids to practice their motor skills is by turning everyday items into fun games. For example, using a hula hoop to move around small objects helps kids improve their coordination and control – a key part of developing motor skills. This also gives kids an opportunity to play without any additional screens or devices, helping provide a break from technology. Games like these help kids engage their bodies and minds in a way that can be both educational and entertaining.
If you’ve tried everything on this list and still feel like you could be doing more, try out our SHICHIDA at Home program for just $0 for the first month! On top of some fun song choreography, our program includes all-rounded enrichment for kids aged 1 to 6 years old.
So, what are you waiting for? Try out SHICHIDA at Home or download free sample content below!
