Why Are Motor Skills Important?

Why Are Motor Skills Important?

We use motor skills every day throughout our lives. From holding a glass to pressing keyboard keys, we do these actions thanks to the motor skills we have developed. After birth and as children grow, motor skills and their control begin to develop. The development of these motor skills is very important for children. Because having good motor skills and controls helps children explore the world around them and also exploring the world can help with many other areas of development. Because babies learn to use their motor skills over time, you need to help strengthen your baby’s motor skills with simple activities and practice.

Gross and Fine Motor Skills

Motor skills are divided into two categories: gross motor skills and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills are movements associated with large muscles such as legs, arms. Movements involving smaller muscle groups such as those in the hand and wrist are fine motor skills.

How to Help Them to Develop?

Motor skills begin to develop from the moment babies are born. Even the smallest movements that babies make by themselves enable these skills to develop. But we now know that even though these skills develop on their own, we need to support them. Here are some of the activities you can do to support babies with these skills:

1. Build barriers: Babies can start crawling from around 8 months. When your baby begins to crawl, cover his path with a pillow. Encourage him to overcome the obstacle. If you have not been able to attract your baby’s attention, you can hold his toys on the other side of the pillow to attract your baby’s attention and overcome the obstacle. This exercise allows your baby to move on the hand and knee. This helps your baby to strengthen the trunk, arm, and shoulder muscles.
2. Stretching exercises: Help your baby sit with you and put a toy at a distance in front of him. Attract your baby’s attention by showing the toy. Moving this way, he will reach out to receive it. You can also try this exercise with toys of different types and weights. You should be careful when choosing toys. Be careful not to choose small toys because small toys can be swallowed.
3. Pedaling: Lay your baby on his back and hold his ankles. Then slowly and gently bend your knees towards your stomach and stretch again. You can also make the activity more enjoyable by talking and kissing your baby.