Grossor and Fine Motor Skill

The physical development is an important part during the children stages, and this process involves the grossor and fine motor skills. 

• Gross Motor Skill is related to the way in which children are able to do movements with the large muscles of their body. Functions such as: walking, sitting, throwing and kicking a ball, jumping. It is important because when children have developed the grossor motor skill, they maintain their body balance and coordination. 

• Fine Motor Skill involves the movements that children are able to do with the small muscle of the body. It is related to complex functions, such as: Writing, eating, use tools (computer),perform personal care tasks (take a shower, dressing).

During the Early Childhood

Grossor Motor Skills	Fine Motor Skills
Children are able to:  -  walk, to jump. -  up and down stairs. - catch and throw a ball. -run  -dance doing basic movements with their bodies.	Children are able to:  - try clothes - dressing themselves. - use forks and spoons when they eat -use pencils, color pencils, markers. - manipulate objects such as: television, restroom, etc

 

During the Middle Childhood

Grossor Motor Skills	Fine Motor Skills
- Children continue improving their abilities to do things, and manipulate in a better way their bodies.	Children are able to: - write their names. - draw in a more complex way - keep balance - coordinate the movements of their bodies. - dressing along - take care of themselves (taking a shower, brushing their teeth) - dance using all the parts of the body - run faster

As conclusion, it is important that parents support  the process in which children acquire and develop the grossor and fine motor skills.

According to the authors if children do not develop the grossor motor skill in a good way, the fine motor skill could be affected. 

References: 

•  John W. Santrock, Children/11th edition, University of Texas at Dallas, 2009.
• Mined, Guia de Orientación para Docentes de Parvularia para la identificación y Atención de Estudiantes con Retraso en su desarrollo, 2010.
• Web Sites:
• http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/df/p/finemotorskills.htm
• http://www.schoolsparks.com/early-childhood-development/gross-motor