Gross Motor Control

• Muscle tone and strength – the amount of tension inside a muscle at rest that allows it to contract when movement is needed
• Coordination and motor (movement) planning – being able to carry out the steps to a task in a coordinated, organised way
• Postural strength and control – controlling posture in a variety of positions
• Bilateral integration – using both hands together, either in sync or alternating movements
• Crossing midline – crossing the imaginary vertical line down the centre of the body with the arms, legs or eyes
• Proprioception (‘body awareness’) – being able to feel or know where body parts are without having to look
• Upper limb strength and stability – how strong and stable the arms and shoulders are

Your child might have gross motor difficulties if they struggle with tasks such as:

• Ball and bat games
• Group sports and games
• New tasks that haven't involved much practice
• Skipping with a skipping rope
• Obstacle courses
• Activities that require both arms and legs to be doing different things (e.g. ping pong, swimming)

Now for the detail! Gross motor skills can be divided into these three broad categories or subsets:

• Upper limb strength and stability – how strong and stable the arms and shoulders are
• Proprioception (body awareness) – being able to feel or know where body parts are without having to look
• Coordination and motor (movement) planning – being able to carry out the steps to a task in a coordinated, organised way

You might find that your little one is strong in some and not in others. All three play a role in little miss or mister’s overall gross motor development so it’s important your tyke is given the opportunity to build on each of them.

Check out the upper limb strength and stability, proprioception (body awareness) and coordination and motor planning pages to find out more about the gross motor skill subsets, including how to spot if your child might be having difficulties with any of them.

Don’t forget that becoming a PlayBiz member gives you access to a comprehensive library of activities that will help you help your whippersnapper develop their crucial foundation skills!

This includes 2-minute Play-a-Short videos that give you and junior a fun and entertaining ‘therapist style’ demonstration of how to develop specific gross motor skills through playful activities such as hopping like bunnies, walking sideways like crabs and playing ‘wheelbarrow bowling’ (where you hold junior’s feet while they bowl with their hands). Not only will your tot have fun, but they’ll be developing their big body movements too!

There are also the 10-minute Play-a-Long videos that combine several foundation skills for optimum effect. Picture a fun and educational TV program like PlaySchool crossed with an occupational therapy session that’s chock full of strategies to help develop your little one’s essential foundation skills.

Ready, steady, learn!

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