G2K Kindergarten Readiness Series: Physical Development & Motor Skills

How do we know that a child is ready for kindergarten? As early care and education providers, we offer the children in our care activities and experiences that help them develop physical, social, emotional and cognitive skills that set the stage for success in kindergarten, elementary school and beyond. In this article, we take a look at fine and gross motor skill development, an important component of kindergarten readiness. This is the third article in G2K’s Kindergarten Readiness Series, which explores the learning domains of early childhood.

What are Early Motor Skills?

During the early years of life, children’s physical development progresses rapidly. As their bodies grow bigger and their muscles grow stronger, children begin to challenge themselves to try more complex movements, like grasping, reaching, crawling, standing, walking and running. All of these developmental milestones involve motor skills, the movement of muscles to perform specific actions. There are two major categories of motor skills: 

1. Fine motor skills involve the use of small muscle groups, like those in our hands and feet, to execute movements such as gripping a pencil, tying shoelaces, and threading a needle. 
2. Gross motor skills require the use of larger muscles in the arms, legs, and torso, and are used in activities like running, jumping, and riding a bicycle. 

How do Motor Skills Impact Elementary School Success?

Motor skills contribute to a child’s ability to participate in almost every elementary school activity. In a series of articles about early learning foundational skills, the Maine Department of Education explains that motor skill development is most noticeable between the ages of 3 and 5, particularly in three areas of development that allow children to be independent and successful in a classroom setting: 

• Grip and manipulation require fine motor skills that use small hand and finger muscles, also known as dexterity. Children need these skills to be developed in order to hold and manipulate a pencil to write. 
• Balance and coordination enable children to use their large muscles for physical activities and sports. Development of these skills allows children to perform everyday tasks, like walking, running and climbing on a playground structure. 
• Self-help skills engage both fine and gross motor skills in tasks that support and encourage independence among growing children. Fine and gross motor skills need to work together in order for children to be able to get themselves dressed, tie their shoes, feed themselves, and perform self-care tasks such as bathing and brushing teeth. 

Motor skills also contribute to a number of academic kindergarten-readiness learning domains. For example…

• Children need motor skills in their hands to flip through the pages of a book, an activity that contributes to foundational language and literacy skills. 
• The ability to use fingers and hands to wave, point, and gesture contribute to communication skills that impact social development and relationship skills. 
• Motor skills enable children to build tall towers with blocks, and manipulate classroom materials, which help  build skills in math and science. 

How do Motor Skills Develop during a Child’s First 5 Years? 

As early childhood care & learning providers, we get to observe children explore through movement as early as infancy.  Below, you’ll find key milestones and tips for supporting motor skill development, as outlined in a resource from the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University.

• Newborn – 6 Months. From the time they are born, infants are finding new ways to move their bodies and interact with their environment. For example, between birth and six months, infants begin to push up on their forearms when on their bellies. You might observe babies kicking their legs and beginning to use their fingers to grasp onto items. We can support infants’ motor development by lying next to them on the floor or play mat, and  encouraging them to use movement to learn and explore.  
• 6 – 9 Months. Around this age, children begin to sit up on their own and try to crawl. You might see them shaking and banging toys and using their fingers to pick up small foods, such as Cheerios. We can support learning and development at this age by placing toys on the ground or mat in a spot just out of reach, to encourage babies to crawl, scoot, or roll to get to the toy. 
• 9 Months – 1 Year. As babies approach their first birthday, they become more comfortable crawling on their hands and knees. They also begin to experiment with pulling themselves into a standing position. Care providers might notice infants turning pages in a book, pointing to different objects, and stacking blocks. You can encourage children to practice standing and taking steps by holding their hands or helping them hold onto stable furniture. 
• 12 – 18 Months. As children approach toddlerhood, they can move from the floor to standing without support, and can take steps on their own. You might also observe children waving hello and goodbye, scribbling with crayons, and beginning to self-feed with a spoon and cup. ECE professionals can encourage physical development with simple back-and-forth activities, like rolling a ball to play catch. 
• 18 Months – 2 Years. Toddlers are able to walk with more control, and are ready to try running, often taking a tumble during their early attempts! Children this age can build taller towers with blocks and can string beads onto a string or shoelace. Inviting toddlers to help with tasks like putting toys away will encourage them to use their developing motor skills in a way that expresses their growing sense of independence.  
• 2- 3 Years. As children approach preschool, they gain coordination and control over their bodies, which allows them to jump, ride a tricycle, and catch a ball. They are also able to hold and use child-friendly scissors. Care providers can support fine motor development at this age, by offering children playdough to squish, press, and roll with the muscles in their hands and fingers. 
• 3 – 4 Years. At this age, children are able to run, jump and climb on play structures, and they enjoy movements requiring increased coordination, such as hopscotch and somersaults. Increased fine motor development equips them to cut simple shapes with scissors and complete basic puzzles. At this age, we can help children develop muscles and motor skills by encouraging them to practice putting on their own jackets, hats, and shoes.  
• 4 – 5 Years. As they approach kindergarten, children are able to enjoy riding bicycles, with or without training wheels. They run with increased speed and climb with greater coordination. You might also observe them using fine motor skills in new ways during art activities, as they manipulate art materials used in drawing, painting, sculpting, and coloring. At this age, we can introduce children to active group games such as Simon Says, and even soccer, to encourage their ongoing motor development. 

Incorporating Motor Skills into your Early Childhood Curriculum

Educators can support foundational motor skill development by incorporating activities into their curriculum and daily routines that involve movement, creativity and self-help. Below are some motor skill development activities you might enjoy trying with the children in your care.

Offer Art Activities & Creative Experiences

When children use paint, crayons, clay, and scissors for art projects, they have an opportunity to strengthen fine motor skills in their hands and fingers in a playful and engaging way. By offering children a variety of materials to use in art activities, you encourage them to use their imagination and small muscles in different ways. For example, children can use scissors to cut paper, glue to paste small items such as buttons and pom-poms, glitter to sprinkle onto their pictures, and crayons and markers of different widths for coloring.  

Spend Time Outdoors

Outdoor spaces invite children to move in so many different ways…from climbing on play structures to running through the grass.  During outside play time, you can take advantage of the extra space by offering children equipment like soccer balls, hula hoops, and tricycles to give them fun ways to move their bodies in different ways while strengthening gross motor skills! 

Incorporate Sensory Play

Little ones love to explore different textures through sensory play. Sensory tables, sandboxes, playdough, and other texturally interesting play items encourage children to squish, squeeze, and stretch their fingers to engage with the items – which ultimately strengthens small muscles and supports development of fine motor skills. A few ideas for incorporating more sensory play into your classroom can be found here: Themed Sensory Bins for Toddlers & Preschoolers and Taste-safe Sensory Play for Infant and Toddler Early Learning Classrooms. 

Encourage Independence

Invite children to help with tasks around the classroom, such as cleaning up toys, putting on their jackets to go outside, and wiping down tables after snack time. When children are encouraged to try new tasks, they get to practice motor skills while learning that they are capable of accomplishing new things. It is a great way to incorporate movement into your early learning curriculum while helping children build their confidence and sense of self. 

Additional Resources for Supporting Motor Skill Development

If you are interested in learning more about supporting physical development in early learners, you might enjoy these G2K articles from the archives. 

• Gross Motor Skill Development in Infants and Toddlers
• Playful Activities for Fine Motor Skill Development
• Supporting Fine Motor Skill Development
• Fun Preschool Activities that Build Foundational Writing Skills