Gross Motor Gifts…Why Are They Important?

Gross motor development is essential in helping your child learn about his world. This might be more aptly named big muscle (like those in the legs, arms, back) development. Any activity involving these also helps get rid of wiggles and squirms.

Activities targeting his big muscles enable him to...

• develop an awareness of his body in relation to his world.
• maintain balance.
• promote good posture.
• regulate his speed among other things.

0 - 3 Month Old

When you bring your precious baby home, you can chart her progression…

• barely able to lift her chin.
• hold her head steady
• roll from back to side
• put weight on her arms when she's on her tummy

So why have this discussion in gross motor development?

Children placed on their tummies will raise their heads sooner and strengthen their neck, back and shoulders...

All prerequisites to crawling, rolling, pushing up, and eventually standing.

So how do you solve the dilemma?

“Tummy Time.” Most pediatricians recommend 30 minutes per day. Our granddaughter did not like tummy time, so we began with as much time as she would tolerate several times a day.

She fussed and flailed and kicked, so we distracted her with a brightly colored, noisy, or lighted toy.

Freddie the Firefly just beckons your newborn to reach out, touch, even accidentally slip his hands through the rings.

That flailing and kicking was building her large motor muscles.

Swings or bouncers aid the strengthening of those leg muscles, and choosing ones with bright colors and music promote vision and auditory development as well. Plus, they enable your child to be a part of the family.

Some bouncy chairs vibrate, and this helps soothe fussy babies. The Sdraietta Melodia Bouncer - Corallo does this.

So that tummy time is paying off in the development of her gross motor skills, as we’ll see when your child hits the 4-6 month age...

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