Resources for Gross Motor
Ideas to Get Moving!
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- If you need assistance with modifying any activity specifically, contact your child’s assigned Physical Therapist. They will be happy to help you!
- Have FUN!
- REPETITION REPETITION REPETITION. From the most basic through complex, skills are learned through opportunities for repeated practice!
1. Play “find and tag it” Activity Level: Easy
This is a versatile game that can be used to review many different skills. Just tell your
child to find something and tag it. For example, “Find and tag something blue.” Or “Find
and tag something that starts with /s/.”
2. Move like an animal Activity Level: Varied but can adapt
You’ll need some open space, but this is a great way to start using new muscles. Here
are some ideas:
3. Create a wiggle jar Activity Level: adaptable
Write out action “cards” and place them in a jar/cup. When your children need a
movement break, pull a few cards for everyone to do. Here are some ideas for a
preschool wiggle jar (can even include activities from ‘Move like an animal’ from
above):
4. Do alphabet yoga Activity Level: Varied
Pull out a mat or towel and challenge your child to do a yoga pose for various letters of
the alphabet.
A – Airplane (hold still and move arms to the side)
B – Bicycle (lie on your back and pedal your feet)
C – Cat pose (get on all fours; then round your back while tucking in your chin; release)
For a list of yoga poses from A-Z (and how to do them!) visit Pink Oatmeal.
5. YouTube Activity Level: Varied
Here are links for interactive movement channels:
6. There’s an APP for that
Opportunities for movement breaks for children of all ages, even parents via YOUR
PHONE
This is a versatile game that can be used to review many different skills. Just tell your
child to find something and tag it. For example, “Find and tag something blue.” Or “Find
and tag something that starts with /s/.”
2. Move like an animal Activity Level: Varied but can adapt
You’ll need some open space, but this is a great way to start using new muscles. Here
are some ideas:
- Duck: Squat down and walk around from there. Keep your arms out or bend them to look like wings.
- Snake: Lie on stomach and move forward trying not to leave the floor as much as possible, like an army crawl
- Bear: crawl on hands and feet
- Frog: jump and hop pushing off with your hands/feet in crouched/squatting position
- Kangaroo: Keep legs together and get as low as possible. Jump straight up as high as possible while keeping your legs together.
- Elephant: Get your child to put their arms together in front of their body and then swing from side to side as if their arms are an elephant’s trunk and stomp loudly
- Penguin: Keep arms straight by their side and take short, quick steps. Encourage them to try walking on their heels to waddle like a penguin)
- Tiger: Have your child crawl on their arms and knees. Tell them to try to stay as low to the ground as they can, just like a tiger would in the jungle.
- Crab: Tell your child to sit down with their hands by their side and their fingers pointed towards their feet. Tell them to push up on their hands and feet so their body is like a table. Keep hips high to work on strengthening core muscles.
- Flamingo: Ask your child to stand on one foot and do a small jump. When they hop, have them switch off which leg is raised to practice balancing.
- Turtle Crawl – Get in a pushup position and move side to side. Don’t let feet or hands cross.
- Inchworm Walk – Tell your child to start standing up then bend to touch their toes. Then have them walk their hands forward as far as they can until they’re in a push up position. Stand up and repeat. For an extra challenge, try walking hands back towards feet to stand back up.
- Horse Run – Galloping is great for gross motor skills. Encourage your child to leap as high as they can with one foot forward. Leg movements need to be coordinated and timed correctly, and acting like a horse is a fun way to practice.
3. Create a wiggle jar Activity Level: adaptable
Write out action “cards” and place them in a jar/cup. When your children need a
movement break, pull a few cards for everyone to do. Here are some ideas for a
preschool wiggle jar (can even include activities from ‘Move like an animal’ from
above):
- Jog in place/ stomp your feet while you sing the alphabet.
- Touch the sky and then your feet five times in a row.
- Pretend you’re playing the drums.
- Fly around the room/ flap your arms like a bird
- Simon Says
4. Do alphabet yoga Activity Level: Varied
Pull out a mat or towel and challenge your child to do a yoga pose for various letters of
the alphabet.
A – Airplane (hold still and move arms to the side)
B – Bicycle (lie on your back and pedal your feet)
C – Cat pose (get on all fours; then round your back while tucking in your chin; release)
For a list of yoga poses from A-Z (and how to do them!) visit Pink Oatmeal.
5. YouTube Activity Level: Varied
Here are links for interactive movement channels:
- Cosmic Kids Yoga: A big collection of yoga routines presented as adventures for kids. Check out the short 2 minute videos for brain breaks or the longer stories if you have more time. PK-Elementary
- The Learning Station: A huge range of fun action songs kids will love. Younger ages
- Dance Sweat Live: The Mini Workouts feature simple dance routines to popular songs. Great for older kids too. All ages
- Move to Learn: Simple, fun workouts for children across a range of ages. All ages
6. There’s an APP for that
Opportunities for movement breaks for children of all ages, even parents via YOUR
PHONE
- GoNoodle
- Cosmic Kids
DIY IDEAS FOR HIGHER LEVEL SKILLS:
1. Obstacle Course: Make differing levels of obstacle courses with colored tape, chalk or
pool noodles. Activities to work on balance and coordination (also helps with
focus/attention):
1. Obstacle Course: Make differing levels of obstacle courses with colored tape, chalk or
pool noodles. Activities to work on balance and coordination (also helps with
focus/attention):
2. Balance Beam: Use a pool noodle as a balance beam Can also cut in half
3. Balance Board: Make with a pool noodle and a board to work on standing balance. You can make this more challenging by having them play catch with you, tossing/catching a medium sized soft ball.
4. Ball skills: Use chalk or any at home supplies to work on tossing skills with different objects (assorted balls, stuffed animals, bean bags etc)