Both fine and gross motor skills in children is a skill that can be worked on and improved through games and activities. Children learn mainly through play, this is how they interact with the world and learn how it works in a fun way. Let's see what the games to improve motor skills in children.
What types of motor skills are there?
Motor skills refers to the complex and coordinated movements of the locomotor system to control the movements of the body itself. It is the way of moving and relating to the world. This is possible thanks to the coordination of the central nervous system, muscles and joints.
When a baby is born his motor capacity is very limited and most of his movements are involuntary. As they grow, their movements become more coordinated and elaborate, still a bit rudimentary but with the passage of time they learn to perform them voluntarily and better and better.
Motor skills are divided into two: gross motor and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills develop first, and the foundation for fine motor skills. It refers to general coordination, balance, and the ability to create wide movements for large muscle groups. And then there is fine motor skills, which refers to the most precise, fine and dexterous movements such as holding a pencil to write. To achieve them, greater maturation of the nervous system and muscles is needed.
This motor development of children develops at the same time as it develops physically, but with certain activities and games we can help them to stimulate their motor skills and help them in their development. Let's see what There are games to improve motor skills in children.
Games to improve motor skills in children
- Play in nature. A child's motor skills improve with freedom of movement and physical activity. This is achieved outdoors, in contact with nature, where the child can run, jump, overcome obstacles, crawl ... Their curiosity will also be stimulated. In addition, children need to be outdoors and you will create memories for a lifetime.
- Fingerprints. It is a game of coordination and balance. With some colored cards some footprints are cut out that are stuck on the ground with different levels of difficulty. Children should jump into them without falling. This way they will learn left and right, to be on the limp, to jump over a point ... Start with easy series and then complete it more little by little.
- tightrope walker. Instead of footprints on the ground, you can also make straight lines with adhesive tape so that the children can follow it without falling as if they were tightrope walkers.
- Draw. It is the best way to strengthen fine motor skills. Any type of craft will do, you can choose the one that the child likes the most. Little by little his motor skills will get better and his gestures more precise.
- Make the wheelbarrow. The typical childish game of leaning on your arms and having someone lift your legs. Being helps improve your gross motor skills by gaining strength in your arms. You can do wheelbarrow races, go from one point to another, or carry things from one place to another and see how long it takes.
- Bowling. Children love bowling and they also work on arm and leg coordination. You can use real bowling pins, plastic bottles, or dolls of different weights to make it easier or more difficult.
- Clay. It's a great way to work on fine motor skills and one that kids love. You will notice that each time their movements are more accurate.
- Imitate animals. A very fun game where children have to imitate animals and others have to guess what it is about. It helps them to work their gross motor skills.
Because remember ... playing is the best way to learn and have fun at the same time.