How Motor Moms & Dads Began

The Motor Moms and Dads Program was developed by Nancy Sornson, a special education teacher consultant at Miller Early Childhood Center in Brighton, Michigan due to the concern of some of the greatest teachers in the district. More children than ever were coming to school with poor balance, poor gross motor skills, and poor visual motor skills. Often these same children had difficulty sustaining attention, sitting still, listening, and working with their hands and eyes. They were struggling to be successful in school.

Using equipment we already had in the building, and with a handful of wonderful parent volunteers, the program began. Children enjoyed the activities and returned to the classroom calmer and more ready to learn. Parents observed how quickly most children improved their skills. They noticed the relationship between basic motor skills and readiness to learn in class. Thousands of children and hundreds of parent volunteers have helped refine the Motor Moms and Dads Program.

In 2004, the Preschool Motor Moms and Dads Program was published to help younger children develop good motor skills. Many preschools had been using the original Motor Moms and Dads Program. Their success stories and suggestions inspired the new program specifically designed for younger children.