Smartstarters

WHAT IS PMP ?

PMP stands for PERCEPTUAL MOTOR PROGRAM

"A Perceptual Motor Program aims to develop a child's perceptions and understandings of him/her self and his/her world through movement and motor experiences" (A Perceptual Motor Program - Manual for Teachers 4th Edition 2007 Bulluss & Coles)

In everything we do, we look, listen and touch. We then process the information and make a perceptual judgement about the things we see, hear and feel. It is this perceptual judgement which dictates the way we react to "my world" (what is seen, what is heard and what is felt). When perceptions of "my world" (what we have seen, heard and felt) are well developed, then reactions will be more likely to be appropriate for each given situation.

Beam Walk
Beam Walk develops balance, body iamge, body control and confidence

Balance, Body Image
Body Control, Confidence

Balloon Tap
Balloon Tap develops eye/hand co-ordination, body rythmn and problem solving

Eye/Hand Co-ordination
Body Rhythm
Problem Solving

The greater the store of "my world" experiences, the better developed are the perceptions and the greater the store of appropriate, automatic motor reactions, the more likely the mind will be free to consider other things. It makes learning easier in the school situation.

Automaticity in supportive cognitive processes frees up attention for higher level skills (SILVA, Clare M and YARBOROUGH, Betty H)

A Perceptual Motor Program aims to give the child experiences in seeing, hearing, touching, processing, making perceptual judgements and reacting though carefully sequenced activities which children enjoy doing like running, hopping, skipping, jumping, balancing, crawling, climbing, throwing, catching, bowling, sliding, etc., using a variety of common and specially designed equipment.

The child needs the motor skills of balance, locomotion and eye / hand / foot co-ordination and needs to be fit to function effectively. Children with common behaviour problems of inattention, "day dreaming", wandering, laziness, clumsiness, disruptive behaviour, among other things, are frequently children who have not developed a "perceptual world". These are the children who become frustrated with school and optimal learning is not achieved.

The perceptions the child needs can be grouped as:

(a) perception of self (body image, body control, laterality) if problems of reversals, sidedness, etc. are to be avoided in the classroom.

(b) a perception of space, if problems with handwriting, poor use of time and inappropriate movement patterns are to be avoided.

(c) a perception of time (body rhythm) if the child is to be able to remember things rhythmically and move efficiently and effectively in his / her world.

Ladder Walk
Ladder Walk develops locomotion, space awareness and language skills

Locomotion, Language
Space Awareness

Launch Board
Launch Board develops eye hand/foot co-ordination, laterlity and skills

Eye/Hand Foot Co-ordination
Laterality
Skills

A true Perceptual Motor Program aims to be " preventative rather than curative", diagnosing and working with problems which impinge upon the child's mode of operation in the classroom. By providing effective experiences and modes of operation, the child will have opportunities for more effective learning. It also develops good social skills and self esteem.

An effective Perceptual Motor Program has children work through a sequence of experiences to develop perception and motor outcomes along with memory training. Confidence grows, problems are solved, language skills develop and the fundamental sports skills are learned which will enable the child to move competently into the major games and activities. Children become self assured people, aware they have a place in the world, and aware of the contributions they can make to that world.