If you peruse the Internet on this topic, you will find a lot of issues related to gross or large motor skills. One issue is a child's core strength and another is his muscle tone. In a child who is behind on meeting developmental milestones with gross motor skills, both of these are likely low. Let's look at why this is so.
Core strength is often a symptom of low muscle tone. So if the root problem is low muscle tone, what is it? Low muscle tone is seen in a child who seems to have "floppy" muscles and loose joints. The child often has problems with inattention and sitting especially at a desk. Many children with low muscle tone do what is referred to as W-sitting. His position illustrates floppy muscles and loose joints. Try it and you will see how difficult it is if you have good muscle tone.
Low muscle tone is not a diagnosis but may be a symptom of other neurological or medical diagnosis. Muscle tone is considered low when a muscle's stiffness is less than usual and when the muscle is slow to react and doesn't seem ready to act when needed.
Many people with these issues also happen to live at a higher level of anxiety. This anxiety shows itself in avoidance of activities that require gross motor skills. There is a need for encouragement to help a child with low muscle tone and weak gross motor skills to develop these. Here are a few ideas to get You started helping your child. If your child has coordination problems, look at muscle tone development as a way to help. Here are some ideas to help your child develop gross motor skills.
- Try out different parks and find the parts of play equipment that are strengthening and do it with out child
- Sign your child up for a fun exercise class. My son did a Gymboree class that was excellent for this.
- Trampoline both inside and outside. Play games with it and involve other children.
- Use a yoga ball and do core strengthening exercises.
- Do bear walks or other games that require upper arm strength.
- Use resistance bands and and use them to develop core strength.
- Take swimming lessons or join a swim team.
- Gymnastic lessons, dance or other sport that will build up core strength.
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