The What, Why, and How of Gross Motor Skills

If you are employed in a state that uses a registry to track professional development hours, you will be able to provide your registry ID (Stars, MOPID, Registry or other ECE ID#) after you have completed the quiz for the course. If you pass the quiz we will report your course completion to the state registry using the registry ID that you provide.

Explore the importance of gross motor development and learn how to support children’s physical growth through developmentally appropriate experiences. Designed for early childhood professionals, this self-paced course explains the difference between gross and fine motor skills, identifies age-appropriate developmental milestones, and provides practical strategies for strengthening gross motor skills. Participants will gain the knowledge and confidence to plan engaging activities that promote healthy development for the children in their care. Course length – 2.5 hours.

This course helps answer the following questions:

• What are gross motor skills?

• What is the difference between gross motor and fine motor skills?

• Why are gross motor skills important?

• What are the milestones for gross motor in the age group in my care?

• How can I help the children in my care build their gross motor skills?

Participants who successfully complete this course will be able to:

• Define gross-and fine-motor skills and distinguish between them with 80% accuracy on the course assessment.

• Identify at least three age-appropriate gross-motor milestones for the children in their care.

• Develop a plan that includes at least three developmentally appropriate activities for strengthening children’s gross-motor skills.