Motor Milestones!

"Motor development is the foundation for all other development because movement is essential to the development of children's body image and their ability to respond to their surroundings. Through movement at all levels (rolling, crawling, and ,walking), children learn about themselves, and the many of the concepts which are important for higher-level learning. By moving their bodies around obstacles in their path, young children learn about spacial concepts such as up, down, in, out, on, off, over, and under. They learn by doing, and eventually the responses become automatic. Children's ability to move in their environment also has an impact on their social development. In all stages of childhood, they interact with peers on a motor level. Independence requires the ability to move and allows youngsters to make choices, to separate from parent and return, as well as experience a broader range of activities and learning experiences."

"Is It a Big Problem or a Little Problem?"
Amy Egan, M.A., Amy Freedman, M.A., CCC-SLP,Judi Greenberg, M.S., OTR/L, and Sharon Anderson, OTR/L

As I keep in mind that this automatic progression of milestones, most of which occurs in the first year of life, provides the foundation for all future motor milestones; it is very exciting for me to see the children's progression of gross motor milestones. Lately is seems as though everyday another child is experiencing and mastering a new motor skill. For example, the ability and freedom to move across the monkey bars independently, to be able to slide down the pole, to be able to negotiate playground equipment , and to master the ability to pump on the swings, is just a joy to behold as you child's teacher!

Last week on the playground...

Ruby-"Lauri come watch me go down the pole all by myself!"

Hadley- Hadley went all the way across the monkey bars,one rung at a time independently! She was just beaming with pride!

Sam R- He mastered sliding down the pole!

Oliver- For the first time was able to climb up and down(negotiate)the playground equipment!

Noah-Each and everyday he proudly shouted from the swing,"I can pump all by myself!"