Tips For Making Sure Your Preschoolers Get The Most Out Of The Playground
If you have a child that is in preschool, there is a good chance that the preschool is helping him or her develop his or her gross motor skills. They might have obstacle courses for the kids to go through, bikes for them to ride, and other tactile opportunities. In order to make sure that your child can be successful, you need to be cementing these skills in the home. One way to help your child develop his or her gross motor skills is to take time at the playground. Here are some tips for making sure that your kids get the most out of the playground.
1. Figure Out What Your Child Needs
If your preschooler needs to build up some endurance by running around and playing tag, you might want to consider going to a park that has a lot of greenery and wide open spaces for him or her to run as fast and as far as he or she wants. If your child is bored with just running around and needs more stimulation, or wants to develop his or her strength for the monkey bars, take your child to a park that has those kinds of amenities. Make sure that the park matches your child's skill levels and interests. Your child will naturally be drawn to activities that develop the gross motor skills that he or she is most interested in learning.
2. Find a Park Where You Don't Have to Be Extremely Vigilant
You want to make sure that your child doesn't run into traffic or do anything else that would definitely harm them. However, you also want to make sure that your child knows how to handle risk and a little bit of difficulty. Take your kid to a park where you feel safe enough to let him or her run wild without you having to worry about them running into incoming traffic and then just do your thing. Read a book and look up every now and again. Talk to other parents. Don't give cautionary advice and let them learn for themselves, as well as take smart risks.
3. Join if Asked
Finally, if your child wants you to play with them, join in the fun. This will allow you to experience the park through the eyes of your child and help him or her cement the gross motor skills that he or she has been practicing with positive emotions.
For more information, talk to your child's preschool. For more information, contact a business such as Small World Early Learning & Development Center.