In fact, the two go hand in hand; studies have shown that physical activity in young children actually enhances concentration, learning and emotional health.

Motors skills are any actions that involve your toddler using his or her muscles. They are learnt during physical play, indoors and out. Here are some ways you can give your toddler’s strength and coordination a boost:

Gross motor skills

These are the larger movements made by a toddler, such as walking, running and jumping. Encourage this development by allowing opportunities for physical play and risk-taking. More than anything, your child needs the opportunity to develop these skills and challenge his or her already acquired skills.

* Space: Go to a park and allow your little one to run freely, jump and skip. Or simply let your toddler loose in your back garden. Encourage activities such as rolling, climbing and dancing.

* Jungle gyms: Help your child to pull herself up on the crossbars, climb ladders and swing on the hand rings.

* Games: There are so many games you can introduce to your toddler that will involve running, hopping, searching, crouching, climbing and crawling. For example, hide-and-go-seek, follow the leader, Ring a Ring o’ Roses and hopscotch.

* Ball play: Sit on the ground and roll the ball to your toddler, and encourage your little one to roll it back. As skills improve, try bouncing the ball instead, and then throwing.

* Planned activities: There are many classes you can enrol your toddler into that will encourage gross motor skill development, among other skills. Swimming promotes and improves coordination, muscle strength and body space awareness, and it is a vital life skill. Tumbling or Clamber Club classes are great for gross motor development, and also for developing cross lateral movement, improving balance, suppleness and self-confidence.

Yvonne Sydow, a Benoni mother of two, sends her three-year-old Matt to tumbling classes. “Matt is tactile defensive and it was recommended that he do tumbling to develop his vestibular system and also get used to the sensory input from all the different movements, sounds and textures. He absolutely loves it, and I love it as it is good for their muscle tone and development,” reveals Yvonne.

Fine motor skills

These skills involve the smaller actions of the body, such as picking things up with fingers, writing, drawing and utilising utensils. The following activities will help develop these skills:

* Sand play: A sandpit is a great place to acquire and perfect fine motor skills such as pouring, moulding, filling, digging and patting. Just make sure your child has all the accessories needed, such as a bucket, spade, fork and any other containers or utensils you can find.

* Art: Equip your toddler with paint brushes, sponges, paint, glue, glitter, paper and scissors (with guidance) and let the artistic spirit take over.

* Building: Jigsaw puzzles, Lego or simple wooden or plastic blocks are great for improving hand-eye coordination and accuracy, as well as concentration and spatial awareness.

* Play-dough: This is great for building strength in little hands, and for fine motor control.

It is important to remember that strength and coordination, like all childhood developments, will be acquired at different times in different children. And, while you can’t force these early skills to ‘happen’ you can provide the right environment and ample encouragement for them to flourish.

Photo credits: Linda Williams at www.visionar.co.za

Additional links:

www.scholastic.com, www.raisesmartkid.com, www.early-years.org, www.livestrong.com

Author bio: Loren Shirley-Carr is a freelance journalist and mother to one toddler and two teenage foster boys.  When she is not in her car ferrying children about, or in the kitchen cooking meals that no one will eat, she can be found at her desk writing. Find her at lorensc@vodamail.co.za

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