Body awareness is a skill that is really instinctive. It’s not something you really think about about throughout the day. This aptitude is usually created in the background, as an outcome of motor skill practice gained through play and repetition.
Body awareness is the ability to understand where our bodies are in space and how our bodies move. Keep in mind that it is tied to the way the musculoskeletal and nervous systems and how they communicate with one another. This makes it essential to the development of motor skills.
For example, proper body awareness tells us how far to reach for objects or how close to stand next to a person. Sometimes, if people have difficulties with body awareness they may appear clumsy or uncoordinated, but they just may be having delays in motor skill development.
Did you know that problems with word spacing and writing on lines are absolutely connected to a child’s body awareness?
Children develop this skill very early on, but in some cases it can go underdeveloped. This can lead to trouble with coordination and tasks requiring spatial awareness. Some of the challenges can include bumping into things, falling down, confusing right with left and similar issues. It can even result in posture problems and deficits in handwriting skills. Happily, there are methods to counteract these issues, such as utilizing various forms of play therapy. Here are some balance and coordination toys to consider.
For more about how to help with coordination and spatial awareness, read the original article here: