Supporting Gross Motor Skills
Donna Viney has been a childminder for 7 years, and works alone in Hertfordshire. She began her early years career with a degree in Educational Studies with Early Childhood Development, before training to be a primary school teacher who specialized in early years.
She loves how, in a smaller home from home setting, she can create close and meaningful bonds with children and their families, and help them develop through play-based learning.
Babies:
Babies should be allowed space and time on a comfortable floor to move their bodies freely and at will.
Encourage non-sitting babies to move their arms and reach for objects using a simple baby gym.
Singing songs and helping make gentle leg movements, for example ‘I want to ride my bicycle’, can help to strengthen muscles.
For babies who can sit independently, offering treasure baskets, large loose parts and simple tools, such as spoons and scoops, encourages them to reach, gasp and lift. By placing these slightly to the side, you are encouraging them to cross their midline. (Crossing the body’s mid-line is an important developmental skill needed for many everyday tasks such as writing or reaching towards your foot to put on a shoe).