Activities for the Large Motor Skills of Two-Year-Olds

Types

• There are many types of gross motor activities that can be developed in the playground. These skills are developed using the swings, slide and balance beams and general climbing and experimenting; these activities help with balance and muscle development. Games such as playing catch with large, soft balls or throwing beanbags also work large areas of the arms and body and can help with coordination. Other games such as hopscotch help to develop balance as well as coordination and strength. Most two-year-olds are excited to try out different abilities with their bodies and respond well to these games.

Features

• Games can also help children develop different muscle groups, gain confidence over using their bodies and use gross motor skills. For instance, ̶0;animal games,̶1; in which the two-year-old walks like a dog or slithers like a snake use large muscle groups and are fun ways to try out different movements. These games can help develop coordination and balance and help the child integrate using different parts of the body together. These games also involve other types of skills, such as learning about animals and developing language and comprehension. Including a toddler in hobbies such as gardening is another opportunity to integrate large motor skills. Picking weeds or digging dirt are great sensory activities and can work on building both small and large motor skills in building muscles and increasing coordination.

Function

• There are a few different areas involved in gross motor development. Knowing about these areas and paying attention to the specifics of how a child is developing physically can help you to see if the child is developing appropriately. For instance, muscle tone refers to how tight or loose the child̵7;s body is. A child who shows too much or too little muscle tone may be having a physical or medical problem. Jerky motions may indicate too much muscle tone, while too little muscle tone may be shown in slow or weak movements. Other areas to look at include muscle strength (how much pressure she can apply with hands and legs), quality of movement (if he moves in a smooth or jerky fashion) and range of motion (how far across the body the child can reach). If a child seems to have problems in any of these areas, it is important to seek medical consultation.

Warnings

• It is normal for a child to face different challenges as she develops physically. However, it is important to be aware of any significant or unusual challenges that your child is facing physically. Seek professional help for a child if she is not meeting normal milestones on time or is displaying large amounts of frustration engaging in gross motor skills. By three years old, most children should be able to jump in place, walk up and down the stairs, kick a ball and ride a tricycle. Failure to meet these milestones could indicate a physiological or developmental problem.