1. Motor Skills Development
The “how to’s” and intervention

3. The development of motor skills
Development of motor skills proceeds according to the laws that govern physiological maturation of children.
The development of movement patterns progress from simple arm or leg actions to highly integrated total body coordination.
The rate of development depends not only on quality of environmental stimulus but also on the stage of brain development

4. Gross Motor skills Involves the use of large muscles in the : Neck
Trunk
Arms
Legs

5. Gross motor skills Includes basic body movements: Lifting the head
Rolling
Crawling
Walking
Running
Leaping
Jumping
Hoping
Skipping
Climbing
Pushing
Pulling
Hanging

6. Gross motor skills There are major development milestones
90% of children reach these milestones within 2-3 months of the average age for each milestone

7. Gross motor skills
Milestones:

9. Fine Motor skills Involves more precise movements of small muscles:
Eyes
Speech musculature
Hands
Fingers
Feet
Toes

10. Fine motor skills Movements and fine motor activities: Blinking
Focusing
Sucking
Grasping
Releasing
Pinching
Writing

11. Fine Motor skills Skills of fine motor: Cutting Copying
Stringing beads
Pasting

12. Fine motor skills
Milestones:

13. The “how to’s” of helping children develop motor skills
Gross motor:
Early childhood gives children the time and practice for emerging skills to become accomplished
What can you do to help?
Provide the stimulation needed
Provide safe environments

14. The “how to’s” of helping children develop motor skills
Fine Motor:
Practice pays off!
Provide ample opportunities for children to practice
Useful tools/ activities:
Building blocks
Scissors
Puzzles
Beads for stringing
Crayons/ markers

15. Physical therapy intervention
There are a number of widely differing therapeutic techniques:
Exercise
Skill instruction
Adaptive devices
Drug therapy
Surgery

16. Physical therapy intervention
Physical therapists main concerns:
Large muscle movements
Gross motor activities

17. Physical therapy intervention
Physical therapists need to continue to utilize the Neurodevelopment Treatment Approach (NDT)
Requires extensive training
Basic principals and practical application can be used by both parents and teachers under physical therapists guidance

18. Motor Skills development
Fine and gross motor skills
How to help children develop these skills
Physical therapy intervention
Gross and fine motor skills are essential to the healthy development of children.
If a child is not meeting the milestones it is imperative to seek help through intervention.