DeKALB | Hold on to your kids.

From September 10 to October 31, the department of kinesiology and physical education will hold their 20th annual motor development program for children in Anderson Hall 130. The program is an eight-week course where children develop fundamental motor skills and learn how to make healthy choices.

The program serves many different benefits to NIU, said Luis Garcia, associate professor of kinesiology and physical education. Besides helping children in the community, the program helps students and researchers understand how growth and development happens at an early stage.

“It helps connect us to the community,” said Luis. Children who participate will learn foundational movements like locomotion, manipulation and balance, said Clersida Garcia, associate professor of kinesiology and physical education.

Locomotive movements involve galloping, skipping, hopping and jumping. For practicing balance, the children may walk down the path of a line. Manipulative movements include throwing, touching and striking.

The program tries to show children fun ways to be physically active and encourages them to make healthy choice. “It’s developing habit toward physical activity that prevents obesity, which is already attacking our young children,” Clersida said.

For the last 10 years, obesity has increased three times in young children, Garcia said. She said she feels it is important to be proactive and one of the ways the program teaches children how to be healthy is having them pretend to take a trip to the supermarket and shop for groceries.

“It’s wonderful to hear from parents how their child is healthy,” Luis said.

The program runs 4-5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and there will be an $80 fee.