Many parents are constantly tracking their children’s milestones: first words, steps, and friendships. Your child’s first day at school or child care is another major step. As a parent, it’s important to understand the basic skills that allow children to grow into happy toddlers, preschoolers, and adults. Here’s a guide to gross motor skills and the significance of them for your child.

What Are Gross Motor Skills?

Gross motor skills are necessary to control the large muscles of the body: the torso, arms, and legs. They’re typically learned during childhood and enable a child to walk, run, sit upright, skip, and much more. The skills are broken into three categories: locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills. Locomotor skills are in use when your child is moving from one place to another, such as running. Non-locomotor skill is movement in place, like pushing or swaying. With manipulative skills, your child moves an object, like kicking a ball. All these skills can be learned at home or at a child care facility that promotes healthy development.

Why Are They Important?

Gross motor skills allow your children to socialize, perform well in school, and to take care of themselves. They make your child confident and secure in their body and create a path into a healthy adulthood, where more complex skills are required. Because of gross motor skills, your child will be able to sit through a full day of school, navigate their environment, and be independent. 

How Do Gross Motor Skills Develop?

Children begin developing gross motor skills as babies. Once your child has control of their elbows, fingers, arms, and lower bodies, they’ll start to show a preference for one side of the body. This usually comes after a bit of experimenting. Once they’re ready for preschool, they’ll need to develop their gross motor skills further. If you plan to send them to child care, you’ll want to find a place that encourages them to climb, walk, color, and have some fun on the playground.

 

If you want a child care facility that encourages the healthy development of your child, check out A Rising Star Children’s Center in Croton-on-Hudson, NY. For over 15 years, they’ve helped children to explore their interests and become confident and inquisitive students.  The experienced child care experts offer lesson plans and objectives with proven results. They have programs for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. To give your child compassionate and intelligent care, call (914) 862-4283. Visit their website to learn more about their programs.