FTCE Pre-K Prekindergarten PK-3 Practice Exam

What type of play can significantly enhance a child's motor skills?

1. Passive activities like reading

2. Active, physical play outdoors

3. Structured tabletop games

4. Virtual reality gaming

The correct answer is: Active, physical play outdoors

Active, physical play outdoors is essential for enhancing a child's motor skills. Engaging in outdoor activities allows children to run, jump, climb, and engage in various movements that naturally promote coordination, balance, and strength. This type of play fosters both gross motor skills, which involve large body movements, and fine motor skills as children manipulate objects in their environment. Children often have more freedom to explore and interact with different surfaces, materials, and spaces during outdoor play, which further supports their physical development. This hands-on engagement with their environment provides experiential learning that is vital for refining their motor skills. Active play also encourages physical fitness, social interaction, and cognitive development, all of which contribute to a child's overall growth and learning.