Gross Motor Skills Needed for School Success
A professional development resource from Robyn Papworth's webinar
Why Gross Motor Skills Matter
Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body and are the foundation for all learning. Before children can master fine motor skills like writing and cutting, they need strong gross motor development. The developmental pattern follows a proximal-to-distal sequence:
- First, we develop core strength (proximal/middle muscles)
- Then, we develop limb control (arms, legs)
- Finally, we develop fine motor control (hands, fingers, eyes)
Rushing to academics before establishing this foundation can lead to frustration and learning challenges.
Five Essential Gross Motor Skills for School Readiness
1. Visual Tracking
What it is: The ability to follow moving objects smoothly (pursuit) and jump focus between points (saccades).
Why it matters: Visual tracking is essential for reading, writing, and hand-eye coordination.
Signs of difficulty:
- Unable to follow moving objects without moving head
- Difficulty coordinating eye movements separately from hand movements
- Struggles with catching or throwing
Activities to develop:
- Follow a moving car, puppet, or torch with eyes only
- Play "keep your eyes on this" while moving objects in different directions
- Practice hand stabilization exercises (hold hand still while moving eyes)
2. Core Strength
What it is: The ability to hold body weight against gravity and maintain an upright position.
Why it matters: Core strength provides stability for all movement and is essential for sitting upright during learning activities.
Signs of difficulty:
- W-sitting (sitting with knees forward, feet out to sides)
- Slouching or leaning on furniture
- Unable to stand up from the floor without using hands
- Quickly tiring during physical activities
Activities to develop:
- Tummy time activities (puzzles, drawing, rolling balls)
- Painting at easels (slightly above shoulder height)
- Drawing on vertical surfaces (windows, whiteboards on walls)
- Crawling games and activities
3. Crossing the Midline
What it is: The ability to move limbs across the center of the body.
Why it matters: Essential for reading (tracking from left to right), writing across a page, and many self-care skills.
Signs of difficulty:
- Swapping hands when drawing/writing across a page
- Small, scribbled drawings concentrated in the middle of the page
- Difficulty with activities that require both sides of the body
Activities to develop:
- Crawling games (scavenger hunts under tables)
- Hitting balloons with pool noodles across the body
- Dancing with ribbons making large figure-8 patterns
- Drawing large infinity symbols (\u221e) on whiteboards
4. Spatial Awareness
What it is: Understanding where your body is in space and how objects relate to each other.
Why it matters: Critical for letter recognition (b/d/p/q), reading, writing, and safe movement.
Signs of difficulty:
- Bumping into objects or people frequently
- Confusion with positional language (above, below, next to)
- Difficulty with puzzles
- Trouble with letter orientation
Activities to develop:
- Ball games with positional language ("throw the red ball into the bucket under the table")
- Hopscotch and other playground games
- Shape scavenger hunts with positional clues
- Obstacle courses with over, under, through, around
5. Vestibular-Ocular Reflex (VOR)
What it is: The automatic eye movement that keeps vision stable during head movement.
Why it matters: Essential for reading, as eyes need to stay focused on text while the head moves slightly.
Signs of difficulty:
- Losing place when reading
- Difficulty focusing on moving objects
- Motion sickness
- Poor balance
Activities to develop:
- Balloon tapping in different directions (focus on the balloon while moving head)
- Parachute games with various objects to track
- Dice games (tracking rolling dice across surfaces)
- Spinning and movement games with visual focus points
The Impact of Modern Lifestyle
Several factors are affecting children's gross motor development:
- Increased screen time reducing visual tracking development and head movement
- Reduced physical play limiting core strength and coordination development
- More time in carriers/strollers limiting independent movement
- Pandemic effects on social interaction and physical development
- Academic pressure pushing fine motor skills before gross motor foundation is established
Key Takeaways for Educators and Parents
- Prioritize movement over early academics
- Encourage crawling - it develops multiple systems simultaneously
- Provide tummy time opportunities at all ages
- Incorporate vestibular activities (spinning, rolling, swinging)
- Use positional language throughout the day
- Reduce screen time and increase physical play
- Remember the sequence - gross motor before fine motor
Simple Assessment Tools
- Visual tracking: Can the child follow your finger without moving their head?
- Core strength: Can they stand up from the floor without using their hands?
- Crossing midline: Can they draw a large figure-8 without switching hands?
- Spatial awareness: Can they accurately place objects according to positional instructions?
- VOR: Can they keep eyes focused on a target while moving their head?