Improving your child's fine motor and gross motor skills

Summary

In this video, Kendra, a physical therapist at the University of Michigan, shares creative ways to improve children's fine and gross motor skills using household items. She demonstrates various exercises to enhance balance, such as walking on a simple two-by-four or using a pool noodle for dynamic balance training. Kendra also introduces fun activities like playing with play-doh for finger and hand strengthening, balloon tennis for hand-eye coordination, and a game called 'Feed the Monster' to further develop fine motor skills. These accessible and engaging activities help children improve their physical abilities while having fun.

Takeaways

• 😀 Balance can be improved using simple tools like a 2x4, a curb, or cracks in a sidewalk.
• 😀 For a greater challenge, add tasks like picking up objects or stepping over things while balancing.
• 😀 Dynamic balance can be practiced by standing on uneven surfaces like foam, couch cushions, or pool noodles.
• 😀 You can strengthen fingers and hands using Play-Doh, which helps with essential two-hand coordination for younger children.
• 😀 Rolling Play-Doh into a snake and smashing it into a pancake is a great activity for improving hand strength.
• 😀 Hiding small objects, like beads, in Play-Doh can further engage fine motor skills by having kids retrieve them.
• 😀 Hand-eye coordination is vital for sports and fine motor activities, and can be practiced through games like balloon tennis.
• 😀 Balloon tennis, using makeshift racquets such as spatulas or paper plates, helps improve hand-eye coordination and is fun for kids.
• 😀 The 'Feed the Monster' game helps work on finger and hand strength by squeezing a tennis ball and feeding small items into it.
• 😀 Everyday household items, like tennis balls and paper plates, can be turned into fun, effective tools for improving motor skills.

Q & A

What are the key skills the video focuses on improving for children?

The video focuses on improving children's fine motor skills, gross motor skills, balance, dynamic balance, finger and hand strengthening, and hand-eye coordination.

How can a simple two-by-four be used to improve balance in children?

A two-by-four can serve as a balance beam. Children can walk across it to improve their balance. The difficulty can be increased by adding tasks like picking up objects or stepping over things while walking.

What are some alternatives to using a two-by-four to improve balance?

You can use a curb or cracks in a sidewalk as alternatives to a two-by-four for improving balance.

How can dynamic balance be practiced using household items?

Dynamic balance can be practiced by having children stand on uneven or wobbly surfaces like couch cushions, pillows, or even pool noodles, which challenge their ability to stay balanced while moving or standing.

What materials can be used to create a dynamic balance activity at home?

Common household materials like couch cushions, pillows, and pool noodles can be used to create dynamic balance activities.

Why is play-doh considered useful for strengthening fine motor skills?

Play-doh is a great tool for strengthening fine motor skills because it requires the use of both hands to manipulate and form shapes, which builds finger and hand strength.

What is one simple play-doh activity mentioned in the video to work on fine motor skills?

One simple activity is to roll the play-doh into a snake by keeping fingers straight and rolling it back and forth, followed by stacking and smashing it into pancakes.

What is the benefit of hiding small objects in play-doh for children?

Hiding small objects like beads in play-doh encourages children to dig and search, which helps improve their fine motor skills, finger dexterity, and hand-eye coordination.

How does balloon tennis help improve hand-eye coordination?

Balloon tennis is a fun activity where children use makeshift racquets to hit a balloon back and forth. This helps them practice hand-eye coordination by requiring precise timing and control to keep the balloon from touching the floor.

What is the 'Feed the Monster' game and how does it strengthen fingers and hands?

The 'Feed the Monster' game involves a tennis ball with a cut-out opening where children squeeze the ball to 'feed' small items like pennies into it. This strengthens fingers and hand muscles by encouraging children to grip and squeeze the ball.

Can these activities be done without special equipment, and if so, how?

Yes, all these activities can be done with common household items like cushions, play-doh, and tennis balls. They are simple and cost-effective ways to improve children's motor skills at home.