Exercises
1. Chico spends a lot of time throwing his cereal bowl on the floor, having mother pick it up, and throwing it down again. Mom gets frustrated, but Chico is having a great time learning about gravity. Chico is in which stage of sensorimotor development?
A] The first stage.
B] The second stage.
C] The fifth stage.
D] The sixth stage.
2. Of the following, the best example of a fine motor skill is:
A] scribbling with a pencil.
B]
roller skating around the block.
C] swimming across a pool.
D] playing football.
3. The sense that is least developed at birth is:
A] hearing.
B] vision.
C] taste.
D] smell.
4. Which of the following would be considered a gross motor skill?
A] painting a picture.
B] dialing a telephone.
C] swimming across a pool.
D] picking up an insect.
5. Which of the following would be an example of holophrasic speech?
A] “Give me
cracker.”
B] “All gone.”
C] “Bee Bee” for bottle.
D] “Me do it!”
6. Kwashiorkor might be experienced under the following circumstances.
A] A toddler drinks too much milk.
B] A toddler has a diet that contains starch but too little protein.
C] An infant does not take in enough food and begins to starve.
D] An infant is given formula that is diluted with water.
7. Children who are in Piaget’s stage of concrete operational thought are also in
Erikson’s stage of:
A] initiative vs. guilt
B] trust vs. mistrust
C] generativity vs. stagnation
D] industry vs. inferiority
8. This type of parenting style has is thought to lead to a lack of self-discipline.
A] autocratic.
B] authoritative.
C] authoritarian.
D] permissive.
9. Betsy is 13 months old when she begins to say “maaa maa” and when she does, she gets a big hug from her mother. This illustrates which theory of language
development?
A] social pragmatics.
B] behavioral theory of language.
C] the nativistic theory of language.
D] the hybrid theory of language development.
10. The primary nutritional concern in the United States for children in middle childhood is:
A] A lack of carbohydrates in the diet.
B] Being overweight or obesity.
C] Too much protein in the diet.
D] High amounts of calcium in the diet.
11. The LEAST common style of attachment is:
A]
secure.
B] insecure-avoidant.
C] insecure-resistant.
D] disorganized.
12. A second grade student is asked if 8 ounces of water becomes “more” when poured in a tall skinny container than when in a short, wide container. This is a test of:
A] reversibility.
B] classification.
C] conservation.
D] identity.
13. Jack is upset because he got into trouble for calling another boy a bad name. As a result, he had to sit alone during story time in school.
Jack is exhibiting which type of moral development?
A] preoperational.
B] preconventional.
C] conventional.
D] formal operational.
14. Alex is very helpful, listens well, and seems to know how to communicate and negotiate with others. Gardner would suggest that Alex has which type of intelligence?
A] logical-mathematical.
B] intrapersonal.
C] existential.
D] interpersonal.
15. Aptitude tests tend to measure ALL BUT WHICH ONE of the following
intelligences?
A] spatial.
B] bodily-kinesthetic.
C] logical-mathematical.
D] linguistic.
16. Adebe cannot understand that a picture of her mother as a child is still her mother. Adebe lacks which cognitive ability?
A] conservation.
B] identity.
C] reversibility.
D] reciprocity.
17. Comparing self to one’s peers is especially important during which stage of childhood?
A] infancy.
B] toddlerhood.
C] early childhood.
D] middle
childhood.
18. Experiential or creative intelligence involves being able to:
A] use the information that has been learned.
B] know the appropriate behavior for a situation.
C] recite facts and definitions.
D] get along well with others.
19. Overall physical growth rate is slowest during which stage of childhood?
A] infancy.
B] toddlerhood.
C] early childhood.
D] middle childhood.
20. This type of moral development goes beyond a
concern for the self.
A] preconventional.
B] postconventional.
C] conventional.
D] moral.
Answers to Exercises
1. C
2. A
3. B
4. C
5. C
6. B
7. D
8. D
9. B
10. B
11. D
12. C
13. B
14. D
15. B
16. B
17. D
18. B
19. D
20. B
Playgrounds are great for building both gross and fine motor skills in kids. At the playground, kids can swing, climb, slide and more while they stretch and develop their muscles and their control of these muscle groups.
They can work on abilities like strength and dexterity, which can later aid in other tasks like writing and drawing. Playgrounds are essential for developing child motor skills, and they provide tons of fun in the process.
Read the full article or jump to a specific section:
- Fine vs. Gross Motor Skills
- Gross Motor Skill Development on the Playground
- Fine Motor Skill Development on the Playground
- Playground Equipment From Miracle® Recreation
Fine vs. Gross Motor Skills
Motor skills are the capabilities we all use every day to move and complete numerous tasks. Motor skills and motor control start developing right after birth and continue through childhood. We generally categorize motor skills into two major groups: fine and gross. Both types are important to growth and development. There are various milestones for motor skill development that kids typically reach at specific ages, but each child is different and may achieve these at different times.
Gross motor skills involve large muscle groups like the arms, legs and torso, and they require higher levels of energy. These abilities encompass broader, larger movements like walking, jumping and climbing. Some gross motor skills also involve hand-eye coordination, as in learning to throw and catch a ball.
Fine motor skills use smaller muscle groups — often the hands, wrists and fingers. These can involve properly gripping an item to pick it up or using just a thumb and forefinger instead of the whole hand for smaller tasks. Examples of fine motor skills include typing on a keyboard or pushing buttons, writing and drawing, playing with small toys and handling objects like play dough or sand.
Gross Motor Skill Development on the Playground
One of the main ways that kids learn and develop their motor skills is through playtime, and one of the best places to do this is on the playground. Once small children learn basic gross motor skills like crawling and sitting up, they are ready to work on learning more movements at the playground on age-appropriate equipment. As children play, their gross motor skills improve even without them knowing they are working on these abilities.
Kids can practice general gross motor skills like walking around the playground and jumping around, but certain common playground elements are also helpful in gross motor skills development. Here is how playground equipment helps with these skills:
- Slides: Climbing ladders or steps up to the slide helps children learn to start balancing and shifting their weight. When going down the slide, children can experiment with different body positions and feel their bodies in motion while also working on balance and control.
- Swings: While on the swings, the body is in motion and the feet are off the ground. This motion helps kids work on balance and coordination. When kids learn to pump their feet to propel themselves on the swings, they work on sequencing and coordinating body parts and movements to control the swing.
- Tubes: Crawling through playground tubes allows kids to work on their core strength and coordinate their bodies in different ways. Crawling tubes allow for creativity and facilitate different types of movement so kids can make their way through.
- Climbing features: Whether completely stationary or equipped with moveable elements like ropes, climbing features strengthen arms, legs, fingers and the upper body. They offer a great way to work on balance, coordination of extremities and sequencing of which hand or foot moves next.
- Monkey bars: Great for hand strength and upper body strength, monkey bars also help develop coordination and sequencing.
- Spring riders: These freestanding rides feature a seat attached to a spring and often have a creative, themed appearance like a car, motorcycle or animal for kids to ride on. Spring riders help with coordinating different body parts to make the ride move, as well as improving balance and strengthening the core and extremity muscles.
- See-saws: Kids get practice with balance, coordination and sequencing all at the same time on the see-saw. The see-saw requires two children working together to move the equipment, which adds an extra layer of coordination practice.
Fine Motor Skill Development on the Playground
Fine motor skills start becoming more developed and refined after some of the basic gross motor skills are mastered, but they can also be acquired at the same time. And while gross motor skill development may seem more obvious at a playground, these play spaces also provide a great place to work on fine motor skills. Here are some fine motor skills that are often enhanced through playtime at the playground:
- Grasping: This movement is sometimes even called the power grasp. Numerous types of playground equipment can help children work on their grasping skills, which strengthens hands, fingers and arms. This grasp is used for grabbing monkey bars, ladder rungs, swings or the sides of a slide. Grasping skills are needed for holding scissors and pencils, gripping things like doorknobs or opening jars.
- Stability: As another skill that’s used on just about any piece of playground equipment, stability involves learning to keep certain body parts still while others move. This skill is key for improving and controlling writing and drawing skills, as well as other smaller hand movements.
- Postural control: Gaining strong postural control is a precursor to enhanced fine motor skills. Climbing, swinging, sliding and more can all help with this skill, which involves strengthening the muscles in the back and abdominals. Postural control helps children sit properly and independently in their chairs, setting them up for better success with writing and other classroom activities.
- Special activity features: Many playgrounds today include unique features that encourage creative play. These could be a tic-tac-toe board or a panel of spinning blocks that show different pictures, or a panel with buttons and levers for little hands to grasp. All of these features develop small hand movements and muscle coordination.
Playground Equipment From Miracle® Recreation
For almost a century, Miracle Recreation has been a trusted name in playground equipment. Our innovative and creative play spaces adhere to the highest safety standards and structural integrity regulations and have enhanced communities all across the United States. We offer a wide variety of playground structures perfect for working on fine and gross motor skills while also sparking kids’ imaginations and providing plenty of fun and enjoyment.
Choose from an array of themed and inclusive play structures or work with our design staff to customize something truly unique. To get more information or find and speak with a representative near you, contact Miracle Recreation today.