Banksia Group

Suddenly we at the end of term 2 and being back at Livingston this term was so lovely, and the children quickly settled into our kinder routine. Having our own space again enabled us to have some more structure and group activities like bingo and buddy time. 

We recently made toast and sandwiches and have made muffins and biscuits in the past, thanks for the help with ingredients. We are often cooking and there are always some children keen to help. This promotes, community, turn taking, waiting, fine motor and gross motor skills, counting and measuring. There is lots of opportunities to practice fine motor skills too, with scooping, stirring, squishing, and rolling.  

Buddy time – paring up children for short, structured activities. To support communication, cooperation, turn taking, problem solving, language and friendships. The children know at buddy time; they stay together and talk together. We do various activities such as Lego building, drawing, games or puzzles.  

At kinder there is a big focus on supporting and building fine motor skills and finger strength.  Activities include – scooping and pouring, spray bottles, pegs, tongs / tweezers, suing short pencils and crayons, collecting sticks and shells, threading, sorting small items, and playdough. These are also activities that can be done at home.  

Fine motor heavy work combines the precision of fine motor skills with the resistance and effort of heavy work activities. These activities engage the small muscles in the hands and wrists while providing deep pressure and resistance, enhancing hand strength, dexterity, and coordination. 

Here's a breakdown: 

What it is:

Fine motor skills:  These are the abilities to perform tasks with small muscles, like holding a pencil, using  scissors, or buttoning a shirt. 

Heavy work:  Activities that provide resistance to muscles and joints, like pushing, pulling, squeezing, or carrying. 

Combination: Fine motor heavy work focuses on activities that require both precise hand movements and a sense of resistance or weight. 

Examples:

Squeezing activities: Using a stress ball, playdough, or theraputty provides resistance and engages the hand muscles. 

Manipulating objects: Building with small blocks, threading beads, or using a sensory bin with sand or water requires fine motor control while also providing a sense of weight. 

Writing and drawing: Activities like drawing with colouring with short crayons, or a whiteboard and pen provide opportunities for fine motor control while also engaging the hand muscles. 

Cooking and baking:  Activities like kneading dough, stirring ingredients, or measuring with small tools engage fine motor skills and require a sense of resistance and weight.  Household chores: Activities like wiping down surfaces, washing dishes, or dusting engage fine motor skills and provide a sense of effort. 

Benefits: 

Improved hand strength and dexterity and fine motor skills.

The resistance and effort in fine motor heavy work activities help to strengthen and develop the muscles in the hands and wrists. The practice and engagement in these activities help to develop and refine fine motor skills, which are essential for everyday tasks. 

Gross motor skills

Gross motor skills are foundational for developing fine motor skills. Gross motor skills, involving large muscle groups like arms, legs, and trunk, support the development of fine motor skills, which involve smaller muscles in the hands and fingers. Here's how gross motor skills contribute to fine motor development:

• Motor Planning 
• Core Stability
• Hand-Eye Coordination
•  Body Awareness and Balance
• Muscle Strength

Independence 

Supporting children to become more independent is a great focus for the second half of the kinder year as they are important skills for school. This includes practicing carrying and packing their bag, dressing themselves, putting on socks and shoes, managing their own lunch box. 

As the weather gets colder, we continue to play outside, so please pack weather appropriate clothing and it’s a good time to check that the spare clothing in the bag still fits and is weather appropriate.  

The parent chats have finished up for the term however I am always available for a chat, and we  can make a time via phone, zoom or in person as needed. I have been checking in with families about what school children will be attending and we usually invite families to share that information if they would like too, in term 3 so people can make some connections and playdates if they want to.

Thanks 

Kirsty, Amy and Marilyn