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Gross Motor Activities

Indoor Gross Motor Activities

Muscle-moving play doesn't have to take up a ton of room. Given just a little floor space, your child can still enjoy skill-building activities inside. Try:

  • Dancing, either freestyle or through songs with movements, such as "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," "I'm a Little Teapot," "The Wheels on the Bus," or "Popcorn," provides lots of motion.
  • Playing pretend: Kids boost motor skills when they use their bodies to become waddling ducks, stiff-legged robots, galloping horses, soaring planes, or whatever they can imagine.
  • Pulling or pushing wagons, large trucks, doll strollers, or shopping carts, can be a motor-developing part of play.
  • Building and navigating obstacle courses with furniture, pillows, boxes, and blankets will develop large motor skills.
  • Large-scale arts and crafts activities stimulate both large motor skills and creativity.
  • Jumping on a mini trampoline or hopping from place to place on the floor (set up targets with masking tape or cardboard) can be a fun activity.
  • Jumping jacks.
  • Smaller muscle strengthening such as play dough or clay; coloring with larger diameter markers or crayons, etc.

Outdoor Gross Motor Activities

Kids have lots of room outside to really challenge their muscles and play hard. They will enjoy:

  • Walking around the neighborhood or park. For variety, add in marching, jogging, skipping, hopping, or even musical instruments to form a parade. As you walk, tell stories, look for colors, count, or play games.
  • Obstacle courses with rocks, logs, or playground equipment.
  • Balancing: Have your child walk on a low beam or plank at the playground or a homemade balance beam.
  • Riding tricycles, scooters, and other ride-on toys.
  • Throwing, catching, kicking, and rolling large, lightweight, softballs.
  • Swinging, sliding, and climbing at a playground.