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: Ball skills

Age: 36-42 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 36-42 Months.

Set up an obstacle course in the gym or out on the playground. Include a set of freestanding stairs, a mini trampoline with a hand bar, a wagon on a large chalk circle, a tricycle on a large chalk circle, balls of different sizes, a short basketball hoop, and any other equipment the adult wants to include. Draw a hopscotch pattern on the cement with chalk to start.

Have children go through an obstacle course: • Hop one foot; two-feet; other foot • Run to the trampoline; jump three times • Run to the wagon and pull or push it around the chalk circle • Take a ball from the wagon, run to the basketball hoop, throw the ball toward the basket • Throw the ball back to the adult at the wagon • Run to the tricycle and drive it around the chalk circle. • Run to the stairs, climb up, get a winner’s sticker out of the basket and run down • Run get the next child

The child completes all of the obstacle tasks, although some skills may be emerging.

Movement is essential for children’s development of gross motor skills, and it is also critical for performance in school. Movement should be interspersed throughout the day to help children maintain focus and attention. Include motor activities in the dramatic play area (for example, stairs to the doll’s bedroom), a car to drive to the store, etc. Do motor activities as a transition between activities (e.g., dance to music, do an exercise, move in different ways to the next activity).