Exercising Large Muscle Groups

Developing your child’s gross motor capabilities is the key to letting him explore his world.

A CHILD’S GROSS motor skills development entails learning to use the muscles that control the head, shoulders, arms, back and legs in such a way that he can execute movements accurately and with exact timing. When your child is acquiring these skills, his muscles learn to cooperate with his brain and nervous system to make his body do what he wants it to do. Gross motor skills include balance, eye-hand and eye-foot coordination, integrating his left and right side, strong muscles that can resist pressure, and an awareness of where his body parts are in relation to himself (and space) even when he can’t see them. These key skills are what help your baby make sense of his world and how to move around in it. And as much as we were all born to move, he learns how to do this gradually. Support your child in his natural need for movement.

8 TO 12 MONTHS

Your baby is suddenly mobile. He moves from sitting to crawling and cruising – soon he will walk.

TO AID HIS DEVELOPMENT

• Hold him under his arms and gently swing him from side to side.

• Softly bounce baby on your knee or a large yoga ball.

• Carry him with his tummy draped over your arms.

• Bicycle his legs.

• Use out-of-reach toys as temptations to roll over regularly.

• Similarly, use just-out-of-reach toys to encourage reaching and crawling.

• Place furniture close enough together so that he can cruise (walk while holding on) from one piece to the next. Gradually widen the space as his confidence grows. Soon he will take a step unassisted!

• Hold his hands and walk together (ouch to your lower back).

• Give your baby as much floor time as possible.