Gross Motor Development at The Pediatric Place
Helping You Move with Confidence
At The Pediatric Place, we understand the challenges that can arise when a child struggles with gross motor development. These difficulties can impact a child’s ability to keep up with peers, participate in activities they enjoy, and even navigate their environment safely. Our team of pediatric physical therapists is dedicated to helping children of all ages overcome these obstacles and reach their full potential.
After completing a thorough assessment to determine where the child’s baseline function is, our physical therapists create a play-based treatment plan to address core strength, balance, and coordination. Focusing on functional skills helps children see the immediate benefits of their hard work, which can be a powerful motivator.
Encouraging both passive and active movements to foster neural connections helps children move and explore their environment more freely. Children develop strength from the middle of their bodies outward, meaning we have to first focus on improving core strength to gain strength in and coordination in the extremities. As children gain strength they gain confidence and become more willing to explore new activities and movements as well as improve their overall body awareness.
Understanding Gross Motor Development
Gross motor skills involve the use of large muscle groups for activities like walking, running, jumping, climbing, and playing. Strong gross motor skills are essential for a child’s independence and ability to engage with the world around them.
Sometimes, children may experience delays or difficulties in developing these skills. This can manifest in various ways, such as:
- Difficulty keeping up with peers during playtime.
- Clumsiness or frequent falls.
- Problems with balance and coordination.
- Challenges participating in physical activities like sports or climbing structures.
- Frustration or a lack of confidence due to limitations.
These challenges can not only affect a child’s physical well-being but also impact their social and emotional development.
Our Approach
At The Pediatric Place, we take a holistic and patient-centered approach to address gross motor delays. We believe in understanding each child’s unique needs and creating a treatment plan tailored specifically for them. Here’s how we approach treatment:
Evaluation:
We start with a comprehensive evaluation to identify the underlying causes of your child’s difficulties. This may involve observing their movements, assessing their strength and coordination, and exploring any sensory processing issues contributing to the challenges.
Treatment Plan:
We believe in the power of play! Our occupational therapists will develop a personalized treatment plan to improve your child’s gross motor skills in a fun and playful environment.
Gross motor skills we can help develop include:
- Balance and Coordination
- Strength and Endurance
- Bilateral Coordination (using both sides of your body together)
- Planning and Sequencing Movements (breaking down tasks into steps)
- Body Awareness (knowing where your body is in space)
Sensory Integration:
Sometimes, sensory processing issues can underlie gross motor delays. In these cases, our therapists might incorporate sensory integration techniques to help your child better organize sensory information and improve their movement patterns.
Family Involvement:
Family involvement is crucial to a child’s success. We encourage parents and caregivers to actively participate in their child’s therapy sessions. This allows us to guide you on how to support your child’s development at home and in other environments.
Ready to take the first step?
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s gross motor development, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to listen, understand, and create a personalized plan to empower children with gross motor delays to reach their full potential!
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Meet Our Multidisciplinary Team
Receive a Seamless Treatment Plan
Start to See Success and Growth!