Physical Activities That Enhance Learning Success
The Motor Moms and Dads Program is a program used by over 400 elementary schools and preschools across Michigan and the United States to help young children ages 3-7 gain the motor skills necessary for academic success. It provides a cost effective way to ensure that children get the motor skill practice that they need. Trained parent volunteers run the program in the hall outside of a classroom eliminating the need for additional space and paid staff. The equipment is minimal and many schools have some of the necessary equipment already in their buildings.Teachers like the fact that the program doesn't interfere with classroom activities because each child is out of class for just five minutes and usually during center time. Teachers have very few responsibilities, except to recruit and schedule volunteers. They see their students quickly improving basic motor skills that are vital to classroom success.Parent volunteers like the program because it gives them a chance to meet their child's classmates and be an important part of the school. Because activities combine movement and fun, children look forward to working on the equipment.Administrators like the program because it is cost effective, allows positive parent involvement and helps prevent early learning frustration and failure.Many children come to school without sufficiently developed motor skills to ensure a good start in school. This program allows all children in a class to improve basic skills in two or three 5-minute sessions per week. Parent volunteers work with 3-4 students at a time, supervising as the children work their way through six activity stations.
2005 Winner of the Michigan Association of School Board's Award of Excellence.
