Unlocking Motor Skills: Why Crawling Boosts Bilateral and Ocular Coordination in Kids
Last updated:
As a parent of a child facing motor skills challenges, you might feel a mix of concern and helplessness watching your little one struggle with coordination and strength. But know this: your child’s delay isn’t due to laziness; it’s because they physically need more support to reach their milestones. In this discussion, you’ll discover valuable insights and practical strategies to help your child build the strength and coordination they need. You have the power to make a significant difference in your child’s motor skills development, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Understanding Crawling Delays in Babies
Research shows that delays in crawling among babies are often attributed to a lack of strength and coordination rather than laziness. It’s a common misconception among parents that if a baby isn’t crawling, they might just be avoiding the effort. However, this is far from the truth. Babies who are developmentally ready to crawl but don’t have the physical capabilities will not crawl simply because they cannot, not because they don’t want to.
Many families discover that their babies need additional support to build the necessary strength and coordination for crawling. Encouraging babies to practice by setting them up in a four-point position can be incredibly beneficial. This position helps them to engage their muscles and begin to coordinate their movements, paving the way for successful crawling.
Building on these insights, crawling plays a crucial role in developing bilateral coordination and cross-lateral movements. These skills are essential for a child’s overall motor development, as they help in coordinating both sides of the body and integrating movements across the midline of the body. This foundational skill set supports future activities like walking, running, and even writing.
Parents frequently report seeing significant improvements in their child’s motor skills once they start crawling regularly. It’s not just about moving from one place to another; crawling helps in strengthening the muscles and refining the motor pathways that are essential for more complex movements later in life.
Author Quote"
If a baby can do it, they will. And if they can’t do it, it’s not because they are lazy. It’s because they physically can’t.
"
Revisiting Developmental Milestones and Motor Skills
When addressing Visual Processing, according to the discussion, the centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) has revised its stance on developmental milestones, suggesting they should not be used as strict guidelines. This change reflects an understanding that children develop at different paces and that milestones are more of a general guide rather than a rigid checklist. However, this does not diminish the importance of key milestones like crawling.
Educators often find that reinstating crawling as a key milestone in developmental checklists can provide a more comprehensive view of a child’s progress. Crawling is a significant indicator of motor skills development, and its inclusion helps in monitoring and supporting children’s growth in a more holistic manner.
Key Takeaways:
1
Strengthen babies' muscles and coordination to overcome crawling delays, not attributing it to laziness.
2
Reinstate crawling on developmental checklists to monitor bilateral coordination and cross-lateral movement progress.
3
Assess ocular motor skills and vision to support and enhance crawling development in infants.
Strategies to Support Crawling and Motor Skill Development
When addressing Neuroplasticity, to support the development of bilateral coordination, it’s essential to ensure that babies use opposite arm and leg movements while crawling. This can be encouraged by setting up a safe and stimulating environment that motivates them to move around and explore. Toys placed at a distance can encourage babies to reach and move, thereby practicing the necessary coordination.
Many families discover that using developmental milestones as a general guide, while understanding their limitations as per the CDC’s revised recommendations, can be a balanced approach. It’s important to monitor a child’s progress but also to provide them with the time and support they need to develop at their own pace.
Author Quote"
Crawling really sets the stage for safely navigating the environment.
"
The Link Between Ocular Motor Skills and Crawling
Ocular motor skills and vision are closely linked to the development of crawling. As babies begin to crawl, they rely heavily on their visual system to navigate their environment and coordinate their movements. This connection highlights the importance of ensuring that a child’s vision is developing alongside their motor skills.
Parents frequently report that once their baby’s vision and ocular motor skills improve, there is a noticeable increase in their crawling proficiency. This underscores the need for a holistic approach to child development, where vision and motor skills are seen as interconnected and equally important.
If your baby isn’t crawling due to strength and coordination challenges, the Brain Bloom System at https://learningsuccess.ai/brain-bloom/ can provide the targeted exercises and support you need to help them reach this crucial milestone.
