When toddlers make the change into preschool children, parents wonder what happened to their baby fat and chubby bodies. Toddlers go through a lot of changes as they transition into preschool children. These answers are found in the child’s motor development as the child utilizes the groups of muscles found in the legs and arms. These motor skills include things like dancing, running, jumping, kicking, catching, and throwing movements. Proper motor skills can help the child move with ease so there’s no delays in their development. An active child gains confidence and also health benefits too.

Preventing Development Delays
Development at the preschool level is a window of opportunity to practice and develop motor skills. A child may have problems or delays in motor development once they reach kindergarten if they are not practicing these movement skills early on in their childhood says the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Severe motor delays are usually not common unless their other medical conditions present, but some children may not develop proficiency in these movements if they don’t get help. Preschool children enjoy movement as it helps them put their tremendous energy to use. Most are successful at gross motor movements when there’s an adult coaching them and when there are opportunities to practice these movements such as catching a ball, skipping, or performing other activities.

Psychological Health Benefits
Children at the preschool level receive psychological benefits when they work on their motor skills. Children will gain more self-confidence when they work on motor skills and have success with those skills. As they gain proficiency they can take part in more activities which promotes their well-being.

Healthy Lifestyle
When preschool children take part in motor skill activities like climbing, jumping, and skipping, they gain confidence and they are likely to want to enjoy more forms of active play. When children take part in physical activity this helps promote an active lifestyle which they may carry on with their entire lives according to child-development website KidsHealth.org. When preschool children practice motor skills they develop good behaviours and this provides health benefits for them in the future. Preschool children with poor motor skills may feel inept or clumsy in the future which can prevent them from taking part in physical activities.

Helps the Growth of the Body
As a child moves into the preschool years, there’s a lot of changes taking place in their bodies from that of a toddler. The preschool child has a body which is easily distinguishable from that of a toddler. Physical activity helps the preschool child develop their bones and muscles. A child may have structured play which is supervised by an adult or unstructured play where the child picks their own activities. According to the National Association for Sports and Physical Education, preschool children need about 60 minutes of unstructured and structured play per day.