Locomotor Skills: basic but essential

Locomotor Skills
Every youngster Deserves to Master Them

If you watch your own child at play, keep a mental checklist as you observe their basic skills:

1.  Can they hand from a safe bar with both hands?
2.  Can they climb a ladder suing both hands and feet well?
3.  Can they hop, on one leg, for 15 seconds?
4.  Can they jump, using both feet/legs evenly, to an APART position and stop there, in balance?
5.  Can they roll, on the floor or grass, while keeping their body long and straight, like a log?
6.  With feet side-by-side, can they move forward, for three JUMPS and freeze then?
7.  Can they sit on the floor, supporting their body with hands on floor behind their 'bottoms' and lift both straight legs 24" [60 cm.] off the floor and HOLD for 3 seconds?

This short list is just a start for you to shift from nurturing parent to gentle guide as children play before your eyes.

The basic locomotor skills are those 'steps' that get us from 'here' to 'there'! These movements include:

•  Walking
•  Running
•  Hopping [one leg lifted-non-weight bearing]
•  Jumping [two legs in use]
•  Galloping: shoulders squared to the direction of motion: one foot forward constantly
•  Sliding: coordinated steps to 'side': one shoulder leads to one direction: feet close together, briefly, then 1 foot steps to side.
•  Leaping: 'air move' taking off from one foot and landing on the opposite foot.
•  Skipping: a combination of a step forward and a hop on that lead foot.

Next time you make time to get your youngsters to the playground or just out in the yard: watch for these movements and IF there are a few that need a few words of suggestion: Do it!

10 Strategies to Build Fundamental Movement Skills in Preschoolers

1. Create opportunities. This can include field trips, looking for playgrounds to explore, finding open fields for free play.
2. Weave words into physical activities: directions, qualities of movement [like a bear, be light on your feet, slow motion]. There are the names: of body positions, parts of the body, names of play equipment to be learned.
3. Play dumb: when your child asks for something or needs a supporting hand, ask them be name the help they need or the place they want to go: slide, ladder, swing. This will encourage their use of more words to try and express their needs with precise terms.
4. Give choices: It a child is not very talkative, a great way to evoke expressive language is to give two choices. It the child still stumbles on selecting a choice, say: "OK, I will choose for you!". Then pick a choice the child may not prefer. Next time the child will likely state his choice quickly.
5. Ask Open-ended questions: Yes/no questions only get one-word responses. Example, don't ask, "Did you have fun today?" Ask, What did you do today?"
6. Acknowledge the communication you like: Lots of positive feedback will keep them motivated and trying to move in new ways!
7. Give them some responsibilities with directions: Move right now. Little kids want to be treated like BIG kids! For example, let them set up a yard game: baseball, or ask them to get a piece of play equipment: frisbee, hoop, jump rope. Describe where the piece is stored.
8. Occasionally change the WAY a game is played: Don't do this all the time because kids thrive on routine. However, it is a great way to spark some input from kids when you change the way you normally do things.
9. Use Humor and be SILLY! the work of children is to have fun! When they have fun, they are more likely to take in and retain new information. They will also be willing to try new things in new ways: exploring movements: how can you climb over this object.
10. Allow natural consequences to occur but with caution: This works on building cause-and-effect awareness. The awareness of heights, speed and hazards can be easily pointed out in playground settings.

Source: https://blog.himama.com