LaurenWelle.com

Summer provides many opportunities for children to participate in gross motor activities. This includes taking trips to your neighborhood playground, going to the pool, riding a bike and playing sports. Activities that strengthen large muscles help children navigate surfaces, improve balance and posture, build stamina as well as confidence. Children who have upper body strength in their arms and trunk have better control of their body which leads to improved fine motor skills. Below is a list of gross motor developmental milestones for children ages 3-5.

3-year olds:

Walk forward heel-and-toe for 5 steps

Run 30 feet with most of their weight on the balls of the feet

Climb stairs using a hand rail and place 2 feet on each stair

Jump with one or two feet over a small object

Jump forward 24 inches

Begin to move legs to pump a swing

May be overly fearful of height and the speed of objects thrown to them

Stand on one foot unsteadily for a few seconds

Kick a ball with a backward and forward leg swing

4-year olds:

Demonstrate a mature run- the arms bend at the elbows and move back and forth across the body, the trunk leans forward, high knee and heel lift and running on the balls of their feet to push ahead

Hop on one foot

Stand on one foot for ten seconds or more

Alternate feet going up the stairs- one foot per step

Show greater perceptual judgement and awareness of limitations

Exhibit increased endurance

Walk forward on line heel-and-toe for 6 feet

Jump forward 10 times

Kick a ball with good backward and forward leg swing and arm movement

5-year olds:

Gallop for 10 feet

Hop 5 times

Walk backwards toe-to-heel for 4 steps

Skip and run with speed

Walk on a two-inch balance beam with control

Jump down a few steps

Coordinate movements for swimming and bike riding

Play group turn taking gross motor games

Stand on one foot with eyes closed for 10 or more seconds

Take 2 or more coordinated steps and kick a big ball

Research has shown that behavior and the emotional well-being of young children improves with structure and a consistent daily routine. Children know what to expect and there are no surprises. Routines provide continuity and children feel safe and trust those involved in their day which promotes emotional stability.

Through routine, parents are able to provide a framework for what they expect from their child. For example, children know that when they get up, they need to go to the bathroom, brush their teeth and get dressed. Compliance with these routines is often better if it is part of the daily routine. Transitions are also easier for the child if they know that they cannot move on to the next activity if their responsibilities are not done.

Parents are also able to communicate their values and beliefs. For example, children learn that when they receive a gift, they say thank you and when entering a building, they hold the door for those coming in or out.

Routines and structure also promote language. A child learns that when they greet a person they say hello, and they say good-bye when they leave. They also learn the names of common objects used throughout the day and the names of familiar places.

Things are going to come up throughout the day that might change the routine, especially during the summer. This is OK but prepare your child for the change by explaining what you are going to do ahead of time. Also, tell them how much time they have before the change is about to occur. If they are taking part in a preferred activity, such as play, let them know that play will be over in say 5 minutes. Set a timer if you need to.

Are you having a hard time finding peers for your child to play with over the summer? I recently came across a pamphlet for a playgroup in the area.

Rene Hackney is a graduate of the doctorate program at GMU. Before graduate school she worked as a preschool teacher at the Country Day School in McLean. Rene also completed an internship at the Developmental Clinic at Children’s National Medical Center. She is now the facilitator of Parenting Playgroups, Inc.

Parenting Playgroups, Inc. offers play groups, parenting classes, teacher trainings and a book club. Listed below are playgroups that meet during the summer months.

Drop-In Play
This program is available year-round, every Friday morning from 9:00am-12:00 noon. No reservations are needed.  Just bring your child and/or siblings to play in a preschool classroom for up to two hours with other children. The play space has a housekeeping area, science shelf, sand table, art area, reading corner, manipulatives, blocks and play-doh. Cost: $8 per single child per hour, $2 per hour for additional siblings over 16 months. Under 16 month siblings are free. Your initial hour in this program is a free trial.

Drop-Off Play
A weekly program for 3 and 4 year olds that is available over the summer on Tuesdays from 1:00-2:30 and Thursdays from 10:45-12:15. The class offers 90 minutes of play, an art project, story, snack and sing-along. Cost: $24 per class.

Location and Contact Information:

6161 Fuller Court
Alexandria, VA 22310
(703) 922-0044
e-mail: rene@parentingplaygroups.com

Directions:

495 South towards Richmond
95 South, exit 57A towards Richmond
Exit 169A towards Franconia
R on Grovedale
L on Fuller Court

Both you and your child need to be ready for toilet training to work. You know when you are ready to let go of the handy diapers, but how do you know if your child is?

Children show interest in potty training between the ages of 2 and 3. Suddenly they seem interested in the toilet or in wearing underwear. They begin to ask your questions about using the toilet or even ask for Bob the Builder underwear when you are shopping at Target. If your child shows interest, is able to ask simple questions, follow directions and stays dry for periods of two hours or longer, they just might be ready!

When you decide that the diapers must go and your child is showing signs that they are ready, you must purchase a few things. Take your child to the store with you. Show the child how excited you are that they want to buy their own underwear and are going to use the toilet. You need to make this experience fun and exciting for the child. Have them pick out any underwear they want, the decorative ones are usually the most desired. Then pick out a potty chair. You can even get some stickers that they can use to decorate the chair. Have your child use your money to pay at the registrar. This will give them a sense of control and confidence.

When you get home, put the underwear away with your child in their “own” drawer. Then, together, put the potty chair in the bathroom. Let them pick a spot where it should go. Decorate the chair and talk to your child about how to sit on the seat. Practice pulling their pants up and down with them. Make sure they participate.

In the beginning, try to schedule potty breaks about every hour, on the hour. Have them sit on the potty chair for a few minutes while you talk, read a book or sing with them. If they do not go, applaud them for trying. When they do go, show your excitement by enthusiastically saying “good job,” possibly giving them a treat and/or a hug. Make a big deal. This is a huge accomplishment!

Your child will need to wear diapers when they sleep for the first several weeks of successful potty training. You can try throwing them away when the child begins to tell you that they need to us the toilet on their own. There will probably be some accidents in the beginning but be patient. Never show the child if you are upset. This will only sway them from using the toilet.

If your child does not have success using the potty chair after a few weeks and are having anxiety, try creating a sticker chart. Every time they go, they get a sticker. After a certain amount of stickers, they get to go to the store and pick out a toy. Another option is to have them roam the house naked. Chances are, they will seek a toilet when they need to go.

Good luck and remember, this is a fun and exciting experience for both you and your child.

Therapeutic horseback riding has been proven to be extremely beneficial for children with special needs. Children have an opportunity to improve their physical capabilities, cognition, social skills and emotional well-being. Participants even experience increased confidence and develop a better self-concept.

Horseback riding requires flexibility, balance and posture. The horses movement causes the rider to use their core muscles which often improves strength throughout the body and their upright position. Muscles that benefit from riding include the back, buttocks, ankles, knees and hips. This is beneficial for those who have low muscle-tone. Those with high muscle-tone work on relaxing their muscles and moving with the gait of the horse.

Horseback riding also provides a unique opportunity for children to communicate with the horse and those involved with instruction. The participant often forms a relationship with the horse. This is especially beneficial for those with emotional or social disabilities. The animal shows love, loyalty and trust in the rider. Children feel in control when riding a horse and it helps to empower them. They also learn how to care for a horse, giving them responsibility.

Riding requires attention, memory and reasoning skills. The child is asked to interpret sensory information that they receive from riding including the motion, smell, feel, sound and sight of the horse. They are also interpreting information from the surrounding environment and the instructor leading to intellectual stimulation.

If you are interested in more information, check out the web-page for The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association.

There is contact information for Therapeutic Horseback Riding in the area under Resources.