Page 9 - LESSION 13.pmd

How Children Learn (Early Learning and Teaching)

Notes

Fig. 13.1 Activities–Fine Motor Development
Examples of gross motor skills are walking,
balancing, running, jumping, creeping, crawling,
rolling, swinging, hopping, climbing (ascending
and descending), rhythmic movement, playing
with a ball, throwing, catching and kicking. Fine
motor skills may include threading, tearing,
cutting, pasting, drawing, colouring, painting,
printing, paper folding, clay work, sorting,
pattern making, using manipulative material,
pouring etc. Activities for fine muscle coordination
are related to muscular control of the eyes, hands
and fingers as well as coordination of eye and hand
movement. These activities lead to development
of self-help skills like self-feeding and self-
dressing. Pre-writing, drawing, painting, clay
modelling, play with manipulative materials are Fig. 13.2 Gross Motor
activities that develop and strengthen eye- hand Development
coordination.

13.6.3 Language Development

Learning language is crucial for children in early childhood since it provides the
foundation for later learning. Children learn language through imitating others
around them, encouragement from others and opportunities for listening to and
expressing ideas, thoughts and feelings. Children differ in the levels and quality
of language acquired by them. Some start talking early, others start late. Some

68 EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION