Perceptual-Motor Activities For Children

Abstract

Perceptual-Motor Activities for Children: An Evidence-Based Guide to Building Physical and Cognitive Skills provides a proven blueprint for improving perceptual-motor skills—the skills that require young learners to use their brains and their bodies together to accomplish tasks. When kids improve these skills, they not only improve their coordination and increase their body awareness but they also enhance their intellectual skills and gain a more positive self-image. This easy-to-use guide outlines a 32-week program of sequential station activities that will help pre-K and elementary school-aged children in various stages of development, particularly those who are lagging behind in their perceptual-motor skills. Developed and piloted by two educators who have refined the program since 2004, this program provides all you need to create a perceptual-motor learning laboratory for your students. The book includes: 200 station activities;evidence-based research proving the program’s effectiveness in improving physical and cognitive skills; complete instructions for creating a perceptual-motor learning laboratory in a variety of learning environments; expert guidance in developing lateral skills, balance, body image, tracking skills, spatial relations, locomotor skills, and manipulative skills. The station activities are purposeful and can be sequenced for building a lab or used independently for targeted skill development. They are formatted as activity cards that may be posted at the stations for easy reference. The activity cards include instructions and illustrations to help you set up quickly as well as skill criteria to enable you to informally assess your students’ performances. With the activity cards handy, volunteers and even student aides can easily help with setting up and monitoring readily available activities. Perceptual-Motor Activities for Children will help you guide children in developing lateral skills, balance, positive body image, tracking skills, spatial relations, locomotor skills, and manipulative skills. In doing so, children will improve not only their physical skills but their emotional, social, and cognitive skills as well.