What are Gross Motor Skills?
Gross motor skills require whole body movement which involve the large muscles of the body. They require use of the core (shoulders to hips) and limb muscles and include everyday functions such as rolling, crawling, standing, walking, running and jumping. They also include hand-eye coordination such as ball skills and balance for things like riding a bike or a scooter.
I offer lessons for infants up to elementary-aged children to help build their gross motor skills. Classes can be formatted specifically for your family, a small group or childcare centers. If you are interested in a topic that is not listed, I will work with you to build a new lesson or class.
Sample Lessons and Classes
| New Baby (for expecting and new parents) | Parents learn about handling and positioning children to optimize their development. Learn about the best baby equipment and toys and when they should and should not be used. |
| Grandparents | A lot of parenting advice has changed and this class offers grandparents a chance to brush-up on the latest recommendations for caring for infants and the science behind the changes. |
| Tummy Time (infants birth-6 months and their caregivers) | This class is for the parents and babies who “hate” being on their tummies. I coach parents through how to progress tummy time so your child learns to enjoy it and offer positioning and toy advice to help support your child. |
| Sit to Play and Learn (4-10 months and their caregivers) | Learn how to support your children as they learn to sit with and without support and move into and out of the sitting position. When children sit up and see their world, they also learn. |
| Creepy Crawlers (4-10 months and their caregivers) | Creeping and crawling whether it is on their belly, hands and knees or hands and feet is often a children’s first chance to explore their environment on their own terms. There are so many physical and cognitive benefits to this independent mobility. |
| New to Toddling (new walkers) | This class offers support and ideas to take children from pulling up to stand on furniture, cruising (side stepping with support) and taking their first steps. |
| Balancing Toddlers (children who can walk 20 steps without falling) | This is for toddlers who are now more steady on their feet and enjoy challenging their balance with uneven ground, ramps, obstacles and more. This class is a great option for parent groups or childcare centers. |
| Pre-School Movers (3-5 years) | This class is especially great for classrooms and daycares. Children have the opportunity to work on higher level gross motor skills such as skipping, catching and throwing. |
| No more Training Wheels (4 years and up) | Work with me to teach your child how to ride a two-wheeler. I have serveral methods and the experience of teaching my three children with very different personalities, levels of fear and athletic ability. |