Gross motor skills involve the coordinated control of whole-body movements. Gross motor skills include crawling, walking, running, skipping, jumping, jumping jacks, ball play, and bike riding. Being able to perform gross motor skills largely relies on the strength and stability of the core and postural control muscles. Strengthening the larger muscle groups in our body helps provide a stable base of support for carrying out gross motor activities as well as fine motor skills. As a common saying in the world of occupational therapy goes “Proximal stability leads to distal mobility!”

Gross motor skills are important for a myriad of reasons. First, improving gross motor skills will enable a child to feel confident in engaging in age-appropriate skills (e.g. riding a bike, playing with friends at the park/playground, sports). When we target the larger muscle groups and support core strength we are improving their base of support to further refine other skills including fine and visual motor skills. The stronger our core and postural control muscles are, the better we are able to facilitate improved attention by sitting upright (in class, at home). Gross motor skills are also needed to complete daily activities including balancing on one leg in preparation for lower body clothing management.

-Declining to engage in gross motor play at the playground

-Finding ways “out” of physically demanding games

-Speeding through obstacle courses or acts overly silly while rushing through gross motor tasks to hide challenges

-Holding head up with hand at the table or rests head on the table during work tasks/meal time

-W-sitting

-Difficulty learning how to ride a bike

Occupational therapists emphasize core strength and stability when it comes to gross motor intervention as this is the basis to help improve attention and engagement. Therapy activities are play based and may involve the use of obstacle courses; gross motor games such as twister, yoga, animal walks; and other activities to help improve gross motor skills.