Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Health and Physical Development (HPD)

Subdomain: Motor Development

Goal: Children develop the large muscle control and abilities needed to move through and explore their environment.

Skill Progression: Locomotion: Crawling/walking/running

Age: 33-36 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 33-36 Months.

Have a ball play day! Have two laundry baskets (or empty cardboard boxes), two medium-sized balls, several small balls (like a tennis ball or slightly larger), a hopping ball, and plastic bowling pins (or empty water or soda bottles).

Set up the laundry baskets at one end of a room or hallway. The adult (or sibling) races from one end of the room to the other, grabs a ball from the basket and races back to the start line.

The child moves quickly and enjoys showing off how fast she can run.

Involve the child in plenty of indoor and outdoor motor activities. Ball play, wagons, tricycles, and climbing all provide needed input to various body parts. Children need to learn how to use their limbs together, in alternation, and in supportive positions for the various activities they want to do. Encourage parents to have play dates with slightly older peers or relatives. These provide children a chance to imitate higher-level skills as they play.