Motor skills are the basis for many different elements of life. Because of this, helping your son or daughter to develop his or her motor skills, both fine and gross, is vital. In this blog, we’ll discuss some easy ways for you to help your child develop and finesse his or her motor skills and why they’re so important for growth and development. At Just For Kids LLC, we’re proud to offer incredible after-school activities for every kiddo enrolled in our programs. If you’re searching for a child care program focused on fun, nurturing, growth, and success, contact Just For Kids LLC now for more information on how to enroll your son or daughter in our child care center based here in Chicago. Call now!

Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skills involve movements that require large muscle groups. These movements include standing, running, jumping, throwing, catching, kicking, riding a bike, and swimming. As your son or daughter grows, developing these skills is essential to being able to play outside, participate in sports, and learn new abilities. Also, gross motor skills directly affect fine motor skills and vice-versa. If you’re interested in helping your child work on his or her gross motor skills, a great place to start is playing with him or her. Go outside and play in the yard, try jumping, kicking, skipping, and marching, kick or throw balls, and dance around to music. If you notice that your kiddo seems to favor one side of his or her body or doesn’t like running or playing outside, it may be a good idea to take him or her to be checked out by a doctor. Remember that every child develops differently and to not worry if your son doesn’t enjoy playing catch or your daughter would rather read or play with her dollhouse instead of jump rope outside. When you take your child to his or her regular doctor’s appointments, he or she will be evaluated carefully for proper motor skill development.

Fine Motor Skills

These skills are required to use a pencil, zip a jacket, tie a shoe, and type on a computer keyboard. A great way to facilitate growth in this area is to color, paint, or draw, make arts and crafts, cut paper, eat dinner using fork, spoon, or knife, or play with blocks, toy cars, or dolls. Learning these skills is often the most frustrating for kids, especially if they aren’t especially dexterous. Helping him or her to work on these skills will allow for your kiddo to enjoy more self-esteem and confidence at school, when he or she is playing with friends, and participating in activities like playing musical instruments and art. If you notice your son or daughter isn’t able to grasp a pencil or crayon well or isn’t able to stack blocks, it might be a good idea to talk to a trusted doctor or physician about any questions you have and to address any issues that could possibly affect your kiddo’s development.

How Just For Kids LLC Helps Your Kiddo Develop

After-school activities are essential to growth and development for every child. At Just For Kids LLC, we proudly offer many different child care services and programs for every child who is enrolled with us. We want to do our best to make learning fun and give every student the opportunity to grow and thrive in a nurturing atmosphere. Some of our clubs and activities include dance, sports, cooking, art, and carpentry, among many other options. All of these activities are full of both gross and fine motor skill movements for your son or daughter to work on and practice. You can be sure that when you drop your kiddo off for at Just For Kids LLC after-school activities, he or she will be in an incredible environment conducive to learning and having fun.

Just For Kids LLC is dedicated to learning and our team of certified teachers and staff can’t wait to work with your son or daughter. We offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all of our students and with our huge selection of activities and programs, your kiddo won’t want to leave! Our students are exposed to arts, technology, teamwork, and fun! You can rest assured that your child will be in great hands at Just For Kids LLC! If you’re searching for quality child care in Chicago, contact Just For Kids LLC today!