Strong Bodies, Ready Hands: The Playground Path to Handwriting by Stacy Benge, M.S.

Children need movement to develop their bodies and brains; so, let’s embrace the bending, twisting, and wiggling! Join Stacy Benge, author of The Whole Child Alphabet: How Children Actually Develop Literacy, to uncover how fine motor function depends on stable gross motor skills.  You will explore ways to intertwine physical experiences throughout the day to offer fun, engaging, and meaningful experiences that support the development of both.  You will discover how to design a play environment that encourages movement and physical development. Leave with the confidence of knowing and explaining that the foundations of literacy and future reading and writing begin on the playground.  

After this session, you will be able to: · Identify the importance of physical development in the lifespan and academic growth.

• Discover the developmental stages of physical development, including gross and fine motor, brain development, crossing the midlines, and the internal senses. 

• Understand the intricacies of physical development and how it supports future handwriting

• Create a learning environment centered around child-led play to promote physical development. 

• Evaluate practices moving forward that support physical development, including sharing information with stakeholders and advocating for child-led play.