Why we love to offer learning opportunities in different curriculum spaces and in different ways....

 Why should children work at vertical surface  based work sometimes?

Shoulder/Elbow Stability-

the use of larger vertical surface such as chalkboards, marker boards etc allows children to use bigger arm movements tat encourage strength and flexibility throughout the joints and muscles of the upper extremities. Even the hand gets a hefty boost of strengthening as it works against gravity to keep making vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines. 

Midline Crossing

When a child is writing or drawing across a large vertical surface they have to cross the mid-line of the body with the dominant hand to reach all of the spaces. This is great practice for children who are struggling with mid-line crossing nd establishing a strong hand dominance. 

Wrist extension

Vertical surface writing naturally puts the wrist in an extended position which encourages hands stabilization for better pencil grasp and control of writing  utensils. 

Visual attention and hand/eye coordination

working on a vertical surface brings the task closet to the child's eyes. this helps kids who have difficulty maintaining visual attention to activities and can help to encourage hand- eye coordination, s the child has a better view of what they are doing!

Spatial awareness

when a child workson a large vertical surface it make directinal terms ( up down left right )  much easer to undersand becase the child can relate the words to his very own body.

sensory

working at a vertical surface may be beneficial for fidgety children who work better in a standing position than sitting at a des, 

core strength and posture. 

working in a keneling or standing positon at an upright surface gives children a good dose of core strengthening opportunity.  The only choide to work is to engage those core bac muscle to maintain upright posture.