5 GROSS MOTOR ACTIVITIES TO HELP WITH DRESSING SKILLS
5 GROSS MOTOR ACTIVITIES TO HELP WITH DRESSING SKILLS
Gross motor activities that focus on postural control , trunk rotation , bilateral coordination , eye hand coordination , motor planning and balance skills are beneficial when it comes to developing independence with dressing . Here are 5 suggested activities : 1 . Play games where the child has to reach outside of his / her base of support without falling over . Practice in sitting or standing depending upon the child ’ s skill level . For example , try batting a balloon in the air with your hands but do not move your feet . The child will be practicing trunk rotation , eye hand coordination skills and balance skills .
2 . Squatting activities while the child is holding an object . Put a hula hoop on the floor . Can the child squat down , pick up the hula hoop and reach it overhead ? Put it back on the floor in front of the child and repeat . Can you get across the whole room only stepping in the hula hoop ? Roll a large ball to the child . The child can squat down , pick it up with two hands and push it back .
3 . Body awareness game such as Simon Says adding in directions such as “ Simon says touch your both hands to your left foot ” or “ Simon says squat down and touch the floor ”. If Simon Says is difficult for the child play a game of Match Me . Move your body a certain way ie reach your right arm behind your back and the child tries to match your actions exactly .
4 . Play catch or kick a ball to each other . Simple games of catching , throwing and kicking include many of the underlying skills necessary for learning how to get dressed . When catching a ball a child brings his / her hands to midline ( skill needed for unzipping , buttoning , etc ). When throwing a ball , a child rotates the trunk and brings the arm across midline during the follow through phase ( skill needed to reach for socks and shoes ). When kicking a ball , a child has to momentarily stand on one foot while the other side of the body is moving ( skill needed for getting pants on and off in standing ).
5 . Set up obstacles courses that include activities related to dressing ie . put on bigger shoes and walk several feet forward without losing your balance , pick up a small hula hoop or ring with your left hand and slide it up your right arm ( mimics putting on a shirt ), hide an object in a zippered bag for the child to rescue at the end of the obstacle course . Try relay races including getting dressed in bigger clothes . Run to the pile of clothes , put on large shorts , front open shirt and big shoes , take off and run back to the starting line . Not enough kids to make teams ? Just time one child and see if they can beat his / her record and get it done as fast as possible .
13