Developing Motor Skills
in Preschoolers
Developing motor skills in preschoolers is an important task. At Learning Zone, we work on both gross motor skills and fine motor skills every day.
Gross motor skills include:
- Pulling up to stand
- Walking
- Jumping
- Running
- Balancing
Fine motor skills include activities such as:
- Grasping and holding
- Playing with small toys
- Typing on a keyboard
- Handling fine objects like sand
- Writing and coloring
The Importance of Developing Motor Skills in Preschoolers
Learning to use the body’s large muscles (gross motor skills) helps a child to gain strength and get exercise. As the child gets older, he or she can begin to do more complex gross motor skills such as play soccer.
Learning to use the small muscles in the hands (fine motor skills) can help a child in three distinct areas:
- Academics – using pencils, crayons, scissors
- Play – building with Leggos, doing puzzles, dressing dolls
- Self-care – fastening buttons, buckling a seat belt, brushing teeth, using cutlery
Motor Skill Activities at Learning Zone
An activity that we do with our pre-K children, holding and walking with a lunch tray in a straight line, uses gross motor skills, balance, and concentration. This activity also helps them prepare for kindergarten. In the photo, you can see that we are also teaching social distancing.
Recently our toddlers listened to a story being read to them called “A Scribbly Story.” Then they were encouraged to write their own scribbly story using a pencil and paper. In this activity the toddlers weren’t worried about “staying in the lines.” It was more about keeping the scribbling on the piece of paper!
Learning Zone Is Taking Enrollments
Come join us at Learning Zone. Visit one of our newest locations – Learning Zone at Berkshire. We have a place for your child at one of our six location in Murfreesboro and Nashville.