Gross motor skills

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Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skills are the abilities required in order to control the large muscles of the body for walking, running, sitting, crawling, and other activities. They are a specific set of skills that involve different body parts such as feet, legs, trunk, head, arms, and hands. These skills are important for major body movement such as walking, balance, coordination, jumping, and reaching.

Pronunciation

  • Gross: /ɡrōs/
  • Motor: /ˈmōdər/
  • Skills: /skilz/

Etymology

The term gross motor skills is derived from the following words:

  • Gross: From the Latin 'grossus', meaning large.
  • Motor: From the Latin 'motor', meaning mover.
  • Skills: From the Old Norse 'skil', meaning discernment, knowledge.

Development of Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skills are developed through practice and repetition, which is why they are often linked with physical activity and sports. The development of these skills involves learning to control and coordinate the large muscles of the body. The development of these skills follows a pattern. Children first learn to control their head, then their body, then their arms, and finally their legs.

Related Terms

  • Fine Motor Skills: These are the abilities required to control the small muscles of the body, particularly those in the hands and fingers. Fine motor skills are used for more precise actions such as holding a toy, writing with a pencil, or buttoning a shirt.
  • Motor Coordination: This is the ability to move different parts of the body smoothly and efficiently together.
  • Motor Learning: This is the process of improving motor skills through practice and a gradual process of updating the brain's understanding of the body's movements.
  • Motor Control: This is the process of initiating, directing, and grading purposeful voluntary movement.

See Also

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