Balance
Gross Motor Skills
The next few memos will be dedicated to talking about gross motor skills. Gross motor skills are large movements of the muscles and body. It is important for a child to develop balance and coordination in order to participate in physical education, dance, or sports. Children love practicing gross motor skills. They do it all of the time by walking and climbing. The first gross motor skill we will focus on is balance. Balance is easy to practice.
Balance Beam-Place a 2×4 on the ground and have your child cross it like a balance beam. Allow your child to walk on the curb one foot in front of another.
Bean Bags-Place a bean bag on your child’s head and have them try to walk without it falling off. See how far or fast your child can walk without the bean bag falling off. You could even have children race one another trying to keep the bean bag balanced on their heads!
Balance Boards-Balance boards can be purchased to help children develop their balancing skills. They are a fun way to practice balance!
Playground equipment can help a child to practice balance. You may run into many opportunities when your child will be able to practice balance. Share your balancing ideas in the comment section below!
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