Gross motor skills involve coordinated movement of the large muscles of the body (such as arms, legs, and core muscles). They are involved in many childhood activities, such as crawling, walking, running, climbing, jumping, ball skills, and more complex sports or physical activities. For most individuals, gross motor skills develop through practice and repetition. However, some children have underlying challenges with core strength, muscle tone, or the way their brain and body communicate with each other, which can impact gross motor development.
Children who present with gross motor difficulties or delays are at risk for further difficulties with sitting still, fine motor development, endurance and attention, and academic skills. Children who present with gross motor delays or difficulties with gross motor skills, as well as children who skip motor milestones or display atypical motor development, can benefit from occupational therapy evaluation and treatment to address a variety of underlying factors, including their sensory processing, that may be impacting their gross motor abilities.
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