Interacting With the Environment
New parents quickly learn that their baby’s interests extend far beyond dry diapers and a full tummy. Specifically, a baby exhibits gross motor skills that enable her to access people and objects of interest, according to PBS. A baby’s motivation to investigate her environment appears in a matter of a few short months. For example, within the first 6 months of life, your new baby rolls over, pulls herself up and may begin to crawl. Reaching these developmental milestones permits your baby to purposefully interact with her world.
Building a Foundation
Reaching gross motor milestones forms a strong foundation for proficient movement that benefits children as they enter kindergarten, reports the National Association for the Education of Young Children. When young children acquire mastery of locomotor skills such as running, jumping and sliding; and manipulative skills such as throwing, catching and kicking; the risk for entering kindergarten with developmental delays in the gross motor domain is diminished. Parents who provide enthusiastic praise and a variety of opportunities to practice these skills help their child to build a foundation for gross motor movement.
Building a Lifetime of Benefits
When children achieve gross motor milestones, it instills an inner confidence related to moving their bodies, and increases the likelihood that the behavior will continue in the future. Conversely, when children feel clumsy and physically inept on the playground, they are less likely to enjoy engaging in physical activities in adulthood, and consequently do not gain the health benefits of physical fitness later in life. Poor physical fitness increases the risk of adult obesity, hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Encouraging Gross Motor Milestones
Help your child to reach gross motor milestones by providing many opportunities to do what children do naturally – play, recommend PBS, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Play is the perfect vehicle for exploring and practicing unfamiliar skills. In addition to opportunities to practice emerging gross motor skills, your child needs ample space and time to master new skills, so schedule generously when planning for outdoor play. Talk to your child’s pediatrician if you have questions or concerns about your child’s progress.