Schools
Kindergarten Readiness "Tips of the Week" April 4, 2012
The Bethel Public School system has created a website of kindergarten readiness information and activities.
Kindergarten Readiness "Tips of the Week"
The Bethel Public School system has created a website of kindergarten readiness information and activities. It can be easily accessed by logging on to:
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http://www.bethel.k12.ct.us/subsite/dist/page/kindergarten-readiness-200
Information and activities are in both English and Spanish. Below is a selection of activities from the Fine Motor Page. Try these at home with your child.
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Fine Motor Development
Fine motor skills involve the small muscles of the hands that enable such functions as grasping and manipulating small objects, coloring and drawing, writing, managing clothing fasteners, etc. In order to successfully complete these activities, children need to develop appropriate hand strength, dexterity, bilateral coordination, and eye-hand coordination. In order to develop these abilities, children should be exposed to a wide variety of activities, where they can practice and refine these skills. Playing with your child is one of the most important things you can do as a parent to facilitate their growth and development in this, and other developmental areas.
Children need a strong sensory motor foundation before they can be successful at higher level tasks. Fine motor skills are dependent on adequate sensory feedback, postural support, and shoulder/forearm stability, as prerequisites to fine motor skill and handwriting development. It is important to engage your preschooler in activities to enhance this development. Typically this can be achieved through a variety of play experiences.
The following are suggestions to help build sensory motor skills, postural support, and upper body strength:
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Animal walks build strength and stability, as well as develop bilateral skills and motor planning. Some include:
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Bear (arms and legs on ground with limbs extended)
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Snake (slither on floor without letting your tummy off the floor)
Donkey (squat and lean forward onto hands as legs kick)
Frog (squat, reach arms forward and pull legs up toward hands)
Crab (sit with feet flat on floor in front of you, arms behind, lift bottom and move forward and backward), etc.
Ball activities (can use soft balls, squishy balls, playground balls, balzac, beach balls, weighted balls, etc). Throwing, rolling, tapping, catching, bouncing. Have child practice catching balls that are thrown to them at midline (directly in front), as well as slightly to the side of midline.
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Have children play in various positions other than sitting. They can lie on their stomachs and prop themselves up on their forearms, chest off the ground. They can also play while on their hands and knees, shifting weight from one hand to another.
Simon Says activities - Be sure to incorporate symmetrical and asymmetrical postures and movements, as well as those which cross midline (reaching with their right hand to their left side and vice versa)
Dancing and marching to music. Follow the leader type games. Use rhythm sticks and other instruments.
Playground activities which develop upper body strength such as hanging and swinging from the monkey bars, pulling up on ladders, climbing “rock walls”, sliding down the fireman pole, etc.
Working on a vertical plane assists with shoulder stability and builds strength in the wrist and hand muscles. This can include using a blackboard, easel, paper taped to the wall, shower wall, slant board, etc. Activities can include drawing, painting with a brush, fingers, markers, chalk, sponge painting, bath soap, etc. Use large movements with both arms working in the same as well as opposite directions. Progress from large to smaller movements. Have child freely draw, draw in paths, trace shapes, connect shapes or dots, etc. Begin to incorporate drawing lines from “top-down” and circles in a counterclockwise direction.
Have fun with your child as they explore many textures. Sensory bins can be filled with dry macaroni, cold cooked macaroni, wet or dry rice, dry oatmeal, dry lentils, water, dry beans, packing peanuts, etc.
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