ECE 130: Early Childhood: Physical Development Part 2

Laura Taddei4/19/2008

PQAS #CI-0036000K1 C3 01

Learning Objectives

Participants will create activities that will increase a young child’s fine motor skills

Participants will discuss the growing problem of childhood obesity and ways that teachers can promote a positive lifestyle in the classroom

Fine Motor Skills

Defined as small muscle movementsThey occur in the finger in coordination

with the eyes – eye-hand coordinationTeacher must be patient and

understanding because it takes time and practice for children to develop these skills

Cutting activities

Cutting is a great way for children to practice fine motor skills

Draw a thick black line on a piece of paper and ask the child to cut

Have the child cut the corners of a piece of paper

Cut fringes on paper

Cut clay or play dough

Placing and Pasting

Place a variety of forms on outlines (cut out shapes or have blocks in different shapes, and have the child place on outline)

Match shapes, colors, or pictures to a page and paste them within the outline

Tracing and Coloring

Use a thick black line and have the

child trace lines

Trace and color shapes

Eventually as fine motor skills

improve, the child can trace letters

Trace in sand

Self-Care Skills

ButtoningLacing TyingFastening SnapsZippingRolling out doughVacuuming a rug

Many times children are not ready to do a worksheet, the child can trace the pattern with his finger before he would try it with a pencil

Trace a pattern in sand, cornmeal, finger paint, etc. The textures give the child kinesthetic feedback

Finger Tracing

Pre-Writing

Dot to dot drawings of pictures, objects, shapes, numbers, letters, etc.

Folding activitiesHave the child do repetitive strokes

Writing

Have the child write in the air and in front of their eyes with their finger

Trace letters on textured surfaces, manipulate 3-dimensional letters when blindfolded

When a writing tool is introduced, letters involving similar strokes should be taught first – moving simple to complex

Tips to Remember:

Upright writing surfaces promote fine motor skills

Children learn best through playing, so incorporate opportunities for fine motor skills while playing; for instance, dress up can help the child with buttoning and zipping

Encourage the children to keep trying

Fine Motor Skill Activity

In groups of 3 to 4, create a lesson plan and activity specifically for developing fine motor skills. Materials are in the front of the room to use to demonstrate to the rest of the class.

Refer to Early Learning Standard Fine Motor Skill handout

Video on

http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/video-30528-49.html

http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/video-30528-49.html

http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/video-30528-49.html

Helping Kids Eat Right and Be Active

Children’s bodies grow quicklyEncourage daily physical activityIncorporate movement into the classroom

activitiesAgain, kids learn through play, so make

things fun

Movement Activity

Participants will play “People to People” A quick movement activity to do where you

do not need any equipment, just people

Teachers are role models

Eat healthy in front of the childrenTalk about nutrition during school activitiesTalk about exercising and be supportive of

childrenTalk about the importance of eating

breakfast in the morning

Smart Snacking

Choose foods like fruits and vegetablesThey are loaded with important nutrients –

not just fat and caloriesFill half your plate with fruit and vegetables

at every mealMake fruits and vegetables the primary

choice for snacks

How many cups of fruit/veggies?

Kids – ages 2 to 3: 2 – 3 cupsGirls – ages 4 to 8: 3-3 ½ cups; ages 9-13

3 ½ - 4 ½ cups; ages 14-18: 4 ½ cupsBoys ages 4 to 8: 3 – 3 1/2; ages 9 to 13:

4 to 5 cups; ages 14 to 18 – 5 to 6 cups