Enhancing Motor Development In Toddler

Enhancing Motor Development In Toddler

Toddlers are full of energy and love to explore their world by moving around it. They love to touch things and pick them up. They even enjoy dropping things just to bend down and pick them up again. Both large and small muscles are developing quickly during this age and toddlers will soon be walking, running, and scribbling. There are a number of play activities that will encourage your little one to use his newfound motor skills.

Push and pull toys are ideal for babies learning to walk. Toys that are tall enough for her to push while she is standing will provide balance for your toddler to cruise around the room and strengthen her skills. Ride-on toys are popular toddler choices as well. Foot powered cars or scoot-style animals encourage little ones to build the leg muscles they need to pedal bigger toys in the future. Rocking toys, like the classic beloved rocking horse, strengthens those leg muscles as well.

Arm coordination, as well as hand and eye coordination, can be enhanced with games that involve rolling, throwing, and catching. Soft, colored balls and small beanbags can be used indoors and out. Little ones first learn to roll an object, then bounce and throw underhanded. Catching may take time, but chasing a ball can prove to be just as entertaining to young children who are learning to run.

Toddlers are continuously increasing their mobility. Not long after your child masters walking, she will be running and jumping. Encourage this movement with plenty of physical play. Use music and nursery rhymes to create fun dances with hops and jumps or pretend to fly like an airplane around the backyard. A nursery folding trampoline provides a safe place for bouncing and can be used inside and outside.

As soon as a child begins to master walking, he starts testing those skills by climbing. Climbing is a terrific activity for increasing agility and coordination, but should be a closely supervised play event. Slides with short ladders are the most ideal climbing tool, but a pile of soft pillows or blocks will provide the same developmental benefits and just as much fun.

Balancing is another activity toddlers attempt soon after learning to walk. A child's balancing skills affect their abilities to learn to run and jump and will improve their climbing ability as well. Low wooden balance beams or short garden walls are excellent for practicing balance. Involve your little one's imagination in balance play by pretending to walk a log across a river or dodge the hungry crocodiles by going as quickly as you can.

Many toddlers love playing in the water. Small wading pools can cool off your little one in the summer and help her develop her large muscles. Splashing and kicking in the water enhances coordination and provides a foundation for learning to swim. Swimming also develops arm and leg muscles and can be an enjoyable activity for little ones. Remember to never force your child to play in the water or to climb higher than he is comfortable with. Children develop at different rates and these activities will be much more fun if your child wants to participate.

See Next Article:

Encouraging Your Chid To Write