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: 42-48 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 42-48 Months.

Play Ball! Obstacle Course. Set up a course for 2-3 children to go through at a time while the others play on the playground. Have children all rotate through the course. Have tricycles, tee balls, bats, a child’s golf club, a target, a pile of foam blocks, etc.

Children rotate through the ball course. Possible course sequence: 1) Ride a tricycle in and out of the various challenges, following a chalk path on the ground back around to the starting position. 2) Get off the trike and take a ball from a container. Throw the ball to the adult. 3) Adult throws the ball back and the child returns the ball to the container. 4) Run to the tee ball and hit the ball. Run get the ball and return it to the tee. 5) Run and jump over the block pile, landing on two feet. 6) Run to the golf club and hit small balls toward a clown or other target 7) Run and get the next child.

Running is smooth with arms and legs moving alternately.

More active movement is needed as children begin to coordinate upper and lower body skills as well as bilateral skills. They are interested in using tools such as bats and golf clubs and trying to hit a target, such as a basketball hoop. Early childhood educators and parents can include some of these in outdoor activities. Race games are also popular, as children are also becoming more competitive with each other around various skills. Don’t forget to include girls in all of the movement activities.