by Sue McLaren | Oct 14, 2020 | Uncategorized
Putting a name to something goes a long way towards helping us to understand it.But when it comes to difficulties with movement skills there is a lot of confusion.Have you heard of DCD-Developmental Coordination Disorder? Or maybe you are more familiar with the word...
by Sue McLaren | Jul 28, 2020 | Gross Motor Skills
When we think about the Health Guidelines for young children, we know that they should be physically active for 3 hours every day – of which one hour should be vigorous activity which gets the child huffing and puffing. What comes to mind is aerobic activity such as...
by Sue McLaren | May 21, 2020 | Fine Motor Skill
Like all learning – the development of scissor skills is a process which occurs incrementally. Just as you would not expect to give a young child a pencil and expect them to begin writing fluently – the functional use of scissors is the same. The child...
by Sue McLaren | Apr 23, 2021 | Gross Motor Skills
The adventurous spirit is alive and well in most toddlers and young children. As they find their feet, the whole environment opens up to them and they are keen to explore it – all of it – the safe and the risky.To support this natural curiosity, as responsible adults,...
by Sue McLaren | Feb 17, 2021 | Gross Motor Skills, Uncategorized
What is Physical Activity? Physical Activity (PA) can be defined as any movement of the body which requires the expenditure of energy. Activities can be moderate and not really cause us to huff and puff such as walking slowly, reaching, balancing, painting at an...
by Sue McLaren | Nov 26, 2020 | Gross Motor Skills, Social Emotional Development
When was the last time you saw a child climb high up into a tree, speed down a hill in a home-made hill trolley (go-Kart), walk over slippery rocks near the beach/river/lake or wander alone in the bush? Chances are that these were all activities that you experienced...
by Sue McLaren | Nov 3, 2020 | Fine Motor Skill
What are fine motor skills? Fine Motor Skills involve the use and coordination of the smaller muscles in the hands, fingers and thumbs. Fine motor skills begin to develop very early in life. You may notice how a baby concentrates to coordinate their forefinger and...
by Sue McLaren | Jun 25, 2020 | Gross Motor Skills
Sue McLaren – Director of Animal Fun chats with Professor Leon Straker about the impact that electronic gaming is having on the health of young children. Leon Straker is John Curtin Distinguished Professor in the School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science at...
by Sue McLaren | May 6, 2020 | Fine Motor Skill
Image Courtesy of babycollege.co.uk What does it mean to cross the midline? Think of an imaginary line extending from the top of your head down the centre of your body. This is the midline – which theoretically separates the left and right side of the body.To be able...
by Sue McLaren | Apr 24, 2020 | Gross Motor Skills
Learning the fundamental motor skill of kicking begins in the early years but does not usually mature until the age of 6-7 years. Kicking skills will continue to be refined over the years with practice and coaching.The enjoyment toddlers experience with learning to...
