The role of sensory processing in the development of fundamental motor skills Gloria Ng, Occupational Therapist, KKH Alisa Bte Mahad, Learning Support Educator, PCF
Learning content • Sensory integration and our body: The influence of the sensory-processing system on gross-motor development. • Strategies for building a strong foundation for motor skills.
Sensory Integration • Children’s brains developmentally matures with the accumulation of sensory experiences. • Our brain organizes the sensory information we experience to adapt and participate in our daily activities. • Children have an innate drive to move and participate in sensory-motor activities Kielhofner, G. (2009)
Our senses SIGHT/ SEE SMELL TASTE HEAR TOUCH
Propioception Main organ in the body: Our nerve endings in our joints and muscles Function: • Informs about our body position in space. • Helps to build of body awareness and awareness of effort.
Vestibular Main organ in the body: • Inner ear • Receptors are also connected with the eye muscles to help us compensate for head movement. Function: • Help us stay upright against gravity. • Sensing gravity is important to learn direction. • The inner ear detects movement in the head. Once detected, it helps the body correct itself (e.g. when you trip over something) • Helps build space and relationship awareness.
The influence of the sensory-processing system on gross-motor development
The relationship between our senses and movement • Our sensory system contributes to how well we are able to coordinate our hands, body and legs. • Our head position, skin, muscle and joints tell our brains about our body position. • Our visual sense is essential in helping us understand visual depth (e.g. climbing a staircase) and even judging speed (e.g. catching a ball)
How does the sensory-processing system work? Image from: https://www.simplypsychology.org/perception- theories.html
Our sensory system is a feedback loop
Vestibular-proprioceptive system • Key sensory system that contributes to the development of our body-spatial awareness. • Knowledge of one’s body -spatial awareness is important so that other sensory information can be understood by our brains. • The vestibular-proprioceptive system helps us with motor coordination and in refining our movements. • Refinement of movement is important to master motor skills. What do you think is the secret in mastering a motor movement? Opportunity for practice is important as it provides sensory feedback to the body. Practice is key for the student to refine their movements and gain motor mastery.
Games that stimulate vestibular system Activities that encourage movement in different directions. Suggested activities include: • Crawling • Rolling like a log • Somersaults • Cartwheel • Playing on equipment that provides movement – Slides – Swings – Merry-go-rounds – Scooter board – Barrels
Games that stimulate proprioceptive system Activities that encourage heavy work. Suggested activities include: • Pushing or pulling weighted items – Tug of war! • Jumping • Pretending to be a wheelbarrow • Playing on equipment such as: – Ladders – Rock walls – Trampoline Image from: https://www.123rf.com/stock-photo/
The sensory system helps in developing motor skills Postural control Eye- hand control Leg control and balance Image taken from: https://us.fotolia.com/id/229985964
Fundamental Motor Skills Locomotor Skills Non-Locomotor Skills Manipulative skills • Crawling • Balancing • Tossing • Bending • Walking • Catching • Turning • Running • Throwing • Curling • Jumping • Rolling • Stretching • Hopping • Bouncing • Twisting • Skipping • Kicking • Pushing • Galloping • Pulling • Striking
Movement Framework in NEL Guide – Motor skills Body Awareness Nurturing Early Learners Relationship Space Awareness Guide – Awareness Motor skills Mastery of movement Sensory-processing system Effort Awareness
The importance of outdoor play “Outdoor play is significantly different from indoor play… When challenging playground equipment is available, outdoor play offers children the opportunity to increase physical activity, and thus develop muscle strength and coordination. Outdoor play time and school recess should be provided in all programs for children of all ages and abilities” Isenberg & Quisenberry (2002)
The need for Singaporean preschoolers to get active • In comparison to US children, Singaporean children in Primary 1-3 did not exhibit age-appropriate Fundamental Motor Skill proficiency despite early Physical Education exposure. • The author recommends increased focus on locomotor skills like hopping and jumping to build the necessary strength in the body and legs at the preschool level. Mukherjee, Lye & Leong (2017).
Strategies for building a strong foundation for movement skills
Tips for building movement skills Build core muscle strength Improve body-spatial awareness • Having a strong core Increasing body awareness can help muscle helps in holding your student be more confident and your body upright while competent in doing everyday doing your everyday tasks. activities on their own, such as: • Moving around the classroom • A strong body is essential safely - learning about personal in building fundamental space (relationship awareness) motor skills and stamina. • Learning about left and right • Learning about effort
Strategies to improve core muscle strength Games/activities that require your student to hold their body position for a period of time. • Class yoga (great movement and stretch break as well) • Balancing games (standing on one foot, walking on a low beam) • Give opportunities to climb playground equipment (e.g. ladders, rock walls) Tip: • Try a shorter duration/distance before attempting a longer duration/distance • As they are performing the motor action, verbally cue your student focus on their body. “Think about your strong body as you balance on one leg.” “ Keep your eyes on the line as you walk on the line”
http://www.thenoatbook.com/2014/07/why-core-strength-is-important-for-your.html?spref=pi
http://www.thenoatbook.com/2014/07/why-core-strength-is-important-for-your.html?spref=pi
Development of body-spatial awareness 3 to 4 years old • Pre-schoolers need practice with arranging and rearranging objects to help them build spatial awareness. • This age group is beginning to identify prominent landmarks to help them identify the locations of objects (e.g. shoes in the shoe rack, books on the book shelf). • Building helps with language skills and math concepts. GROUP ACTIVITY - Discussion 1) One activity/material that you could introduce in your class to provide your students the opportunity to build and arrange objects. 2) With a child that needs more help getting organised, what landmarks could you implement in your class to help your students in the classroom routine?
Development of body-spatial awareness 5 to 6 years old • Kindergarteners are able to follow commands that require both gross and fine motor skills with greater ease. • At this stage, children's exuberance can overpower their physical skills. Therefore, they need to learn to move carefully. By doing so, it can help improve their effort awareness. • By 6 years of age, children are more aware of their bodies and less egocentric. https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/ages-stages-all-about-body-awareness/
Strategies for building body-spatial awareness • Teach about directions experientially – Teach left and right explicitly – Use prepositions such as up, down, low, high, under, over when describing movements – Obstacle courses is a great activity! • Weighted items can help stimulate the proprioceptive system and give more sensory feedback in comparison to lighter items (e.g. using a rubber ball instead of an inflated plastic ball) • Large items encourage bigger movements which provide more sensory feedback in comparison to smaller items (e.g. a basketball instead of a tennis ball).
Tips for building body-spatial awareness Use visual cues to help the child refine their movements and motor coordination. • Markers for hands and feet http://www.stpaulscollegiate.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/PRSD-Pulse-Edition-11.pdf • Cones • Lines • Hula hoops http://afsprek.blogspot.com/2012/03/prek-physical-education-personal-space.html
Tips for developing body-spatial awareness For 5-6 year olds, use analogies to help them imagine and grade their movements – Light as a feather – Slow like a snail – Quick like a cheetah – Stretch tall like a giraffe – Squat low and small like a mouse Group activity: Can you think of a game that you could teach your students to be more aware of their effort and move carefully?
Sensory hallway/ corridor • Provides more opportunities for physical activity (e.g. stepping jumping, hopping, balancing) • A great movement break opportunity for the children to regulate their attention. https://youtu.be/D-3BDwL8rUA
Recommend
More recommend
