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: Jumping/ hopping

Age: 33-36 Months

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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).

Place the laundry baskets four feet apart. Place both balls in one basket. Each player hops from the empty basket to the full basket, gets a ball, hops back and puts it in the empty basket.

The child can balance when jumping and when sitting on a hopping ball.

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.