Motor Planning Ability

 

The ability to organize the large and small muscles in order to carry out a planned task involves intricate coordination of cognitive and sensory motor abilities. Practicing varying levels of planned activities help to develop proficiency at this task and lays a foundation for the more difficulty planned tasks that school activities requires.

 

Some things you can try at home:

Let your child help you put canned, boxed goods or pots and pans away on a shelf or in a cupboard.  Ask him to figure which items fit in which spots

 

Show your child how to fold small towels, pillow cases, or wash cloths.  Demonstrate.  Do it with him. Then have him try. 

 

Ask your child to be your shadow and mimic everything you do while you walk around and perform simple actions.

 

Sing action songs and encourage your child to do the actions as you sing the song, for example the isty, bisty spider.

 

Do an animal parade.  Can you child walk like a bear, hop like a frog, slither like as snake or waddle like a duck, hop like a rabbit. 

 

Practice putting on and taking off jacket.  If your child is struggling, try having him use the up and over method.  Lay out the jacket on the floor or small table.  With the front open and the collar next to his body, have your child slip both arms into the sleeves and then flip the jacket up and over his head.