Motor Skills -when babies learn from the sensations of movement, primarily from active rather than passive movement. -are usually divided into at least two general categories.

Fine Motors and Gross Motors Skills Fine Motor Skills- as far the preparation for manual control is concerned. Coordination of hand, fingers, thumb, lips and mouth. Gross Motor Skills- refer to the involvement of the large muscles of the neck, trunk, arms, and legs.

Fine Motor skills movement examples; Writing Cutting Folding Blinking Focusing Grasping Releasing

Gross Motor skills movement examples; Jumping Crawling Climbing Walking Hoping Pulling Hanging Skipping Pushing

The How To’s of Helping Children to Develop Motor Skills Fine Motor: Provide children opportunities for children to practice.

The How To’s of Helping Children to Develop Motor Skills Gross motor Provide Safety and Obstacles free environments Provide regular opportunities for children to do physical activities

Physical Therapy Intervention According to (Snell &Brown, 2011) interventions should shift from develop mental goals to the development of functional skills that will enable the child to participate actively at home, school, and in the community In planning intervention for an individual child, the therapist should look carefully at the child’s functional level, considering activities for daily living, interactions within home and community environments areas.

Role of Therapist As a part of the team approach in early childhood special education, the therapist must help teachers and parents understand the objectives and techniques for the development of functional motor skills. Responsibilities of Therapist Explaining and diagnosis Assessing the child Demonstrate techniques Provide adaptive equipment

References Cook, R. E., Klein, M. D., & Chen, D. (2012). Adapting Early Childhood Curricula with Special Needs 8 th ed.Boston:Pearson