The Need for Gross Motor Skills Activities in Life

From a very small age, movement becomes a crucial part of every kid’s life. Our day-to-day work depends on movement. 

No matter if it is an infant or a kid who wants to run or climb a tree. Everything needs movement. 

The need for gross motor skills is the foundation of everything. Imagine a kid catching a ball without control over his movement. 

It looks difficult, right? That’s why gross motor skills activity is a base for future strengthening and balancing. 

But do you know these gross motor skills don’t develop on their own? They need to practice from scratch and refine with time. 

What Are Gross Motor Skills?  

Gross motor skills is a combination of physical activities (running, dancing etc) which helps children to grow and develop the large muscles which are responsible for core strength. 

Practising every day also contributes to fine motor skills activities, which involve small muscle movements. Here, we will explore everything about gross motor skills activities. 

From indoor and outdoor activities to enhance kids’ movements and some common questions parents often have about developing these skills in children.

Indoor Gross Motor Activities for Children

Indoor gross motor activities for children include different types of physical exercise or games to develop large muscle groups. 

These activities are essential for kids to improve strength, balance and coordination. It also helps in body movement and improves overall physical fitness. 

Here are some common fun indoor gross motor activities for kids:

1. Obstacle Course

Obstacle course is a series of physical activities designed for students to challenge physical activities. Jumping over the pillow, snatching the blanket and crawling under the table are examples of fun-filled obstacle courses.

Creating simple to complex Obstacle courses for children is a quick and simple way to improve movements. 

Various tools used by parents like pillows, chairs, and blankets can be used in the initial stages. 

• Material Needed: Soft toy, pillows, chair or table. 
• How to Do it: Create an obstacle before with these materials. Set a starting and ending point. 
• Tip: Make a safe obstacle course in a good space. Keep changing layout simple to complex. 

Read more on the easy fun learning activities for your kids at home.

2. Animal Walks

Animal walk is a fun loving, simply gross motor skills activity in which children mimic the movements of animals. 

Animals such as crawling like a bear, hopping like a frog, or waddling like a duck. Animal walk is a great game to encourage creativity, and regulate the sensory system. 

• Material Needed: Nothing just a free indoor space. 
• How to Do it: Ask children to walk or speak like different animals such as cows, hens, goats etc. 
• Tip: Let children choose their interested cartoon characters and each time choose the new animal. 

3. Simon Says

“Simon says” is a popular gross motor skills in kids in which one person plays the role of Simon and other players follow the command including “Simon says”.

With this activity, children learn identification skills, memorising ability and their listening skills improve with time. 

• Material Needed: None
• How to Do it: One person gives command to another bunch of childrens who can follow or not. The command is only followed when it includes “Simon says”. Example “Simon says touch your hair”.
• Tip: To enhance gross motor skills choose different commands. 

4. Balloon Volleyball

Balloon volleyball is a gross motor skills activity in which children play with the balloon by hitting it up. This helps to improve motor skills, jumping, and social engagement. 

Instead of using balls, children use balloons to hit and catch. This movement improves eyesight and coordination while catching. 

• Material Needed: Balloons 
• How to Do it: Divide the kids into two equal groups. Hit the balloon slowly and safely without busting. 
• Tip: Use a big and dark color balloon for visibility and easy play. 

5. Tape on Floor

The tape on the floor is an exciting gross motor skill activity in which a balancing masking tape is used to create a hopscotch grid on the floor. It helps in leg strengthening, body coordination. which is ideal for kids. 

• Material Needed: Beanbag for tossing and masking tapes. 
• How to Do it: Make a hopscotch grid with the help of tape. Children toss the object into the square or hop through the rest, skipping the square. 
• Tip: Number the box and use colorful tapes. 

6. Jump Rope or Skipping

Jump rope or skipping is a gross motor activity in which children jump over and under the rope. 

To enhance the cardiovascular health of children from a small age, jump rope and skipping are ideal choices. This gives inner strength and kids never faint or feel tired on sunny days. 

• Material Needed: Jumping or skipping rope. 
• How to Do it: A clear space to jump solo or in a group. 
• Tip: Start with slow in a rhythm and count for competition. 

7. Rolling and Tumbling

Rolling and tumbling is an inside the house gross motor activity generally involves playful, energetic movement and physical contact. 

With the help of a carpet kids can play this game in a clean area for body control and flexibility. 

• Material Needed: Soft carpet or mat. 
• How to Do it: Ensure a clear space or room without any obstacles. 
• Tip: Teach slow movement and keep eye on children to save from injury. 

8. Dancing or Freeze Dance

Dancing or freeze dance is a form of physical activity in which the body moves according to rhythm. 

Who doesn’t want to dance or play a freeze dance game? The combination of music and dance which improves coordination, expresses emotions and listening efficiency. 

It is a fun game which can be played anywhere as an indoor or outdoor gross motor skills activity. 

• Material Needed: Music player and clear space. 
• How to Do it:  Freely dance with music. 
• Tip: Use different dance steps and movements to improve gross motor skills. Change music according to interest.

Outdoor Gross Motor Activities for Children

Outdoor gross motor skills activities are the best way to learn motor skills outside the home or class. Those who feel bored at home can opt.

So if your kid wants to try something new, fresh air, to improve health. Below motor skills are best. 

Let’s see some of the excellent outdoor gross motor skills activities for different age groups of kids: 

1. Running or Relay Races

Running in a race or relay race is a kind of outdoor gross motor activity in which participants run to reach the end and win. 

This gross motor skills activity showcases strength of legs and focuses on building speed. It doesn’t need any preparation, just friends for competition. 

This easy setup can be created in a backyard or in a park which helps in speed improvement, endurance, and leg stretching. 

• Material Needed: Open space like garden, marker or rope for finishing line. 
• How to Do it: Setup starting and finishing line. Connect with other children to participate. 
• Tip: Children can also try backwards running for fun. 

2. Climbing the Tree

Climbing the tree is good for whole-body strengthening and stretching. For both children and adults, tree climbing is a dream. 

But it also guides problem-solving techniques and risk-taking abilities. And the result is children feel confident to concour hard tasks. 

• Material Needed: Look for the safe tree. 
• How to Do it: Climbing under the supervision of an adult is a safer option. 
• Tip: Inspect the tree whether it is near home, school or boundary. Ensure a short height one. 

3. Swinging on Swing Game

For balancing the body and core strengthening, swinging on Swing Game is an ideal outdoor gross motor skills activity. 

Some kids choose swimming. But those who know the trick to swim or want classes can add in their motor skills activities. 

• Material Needed: Swing setup in playground.
• How to Do it: Look for swing and allow children to play independently. 
• Tip: Ensure safety before starring and let children try with legs. 

4. Hiking or Nature Walks

Just like tree climbing, hiking or nature walks is also an alternative option for gross motor skill activity. Here kids explore the world and the beauty of nature. 

To increase curiosity and observation skills, this gross motor skills activity is a must-try one for kids. 

• Material Needed: Essential tools like water bottle, light tracking bag, comfortable shoes. 
• How to Do it: Let children observe the nearby area and learn new things. Start with simple hiking spots. 
• Tip: Walk carefully without distraction and injury. 

5. Skateboard Riding

The best approach to learn balancing is skateboard riding. It works in physical development and body flexibility. 

Among all outdoor gross motor skills activities this one is tough but interesting to do. So, give it a try. 

• Material Needed: Skateboard, helmet, elbow and knee pads. 
• How to Do it: Start with short trials. Take help from an instructor to become an expert. 
• Tip: Careful in the early days. 

6. Cycling or Bike Riding

Cycling or bike riding ensures kids use pedal-driven human-powered vehicles for leg movement and overall fitness. 

This extends the boundaries of playing and provides opportunities to know new areas, signs, and road safety symbols and build communication ability. 

• Material Needed: Helmet, bicycle or tricycle. 
• How to Do it: Ride in open areas like parks or sidewalks. 
• Tip: Ensure children learn traffic rules and ride confidently. 

7. Drawing with Chalk

Drawing with chalk is a creative way of bringing imagination to life through unique designs. Trying new colours, learning their names and creating memories is good for mental and physical growth. 

This outdoor motor skills activity makes children a creative thinker and open-minded person in future. 

• Material Needed: Chalk, clean and big floor. 
• How to Do it: Let kids think innovative and draw various things like shapes, symbols, letters and numbers on the floor. 
• Tip: Teach new things like color names, two digit numbers etc. 

Final Thoughts: Encourage Your Child’s Movements and Activities. 

We understand why gross motor skills activities are important for infants to young children. 

Encouraging them to participate in the desired activities is for physical and cognitive development. 

Gross motor skills activities build strength, coordination, confidence, and social skills, laying the foundation for a healthy and active life. 

So, ensure each child plays and works on their development. To do so, one needs to make Strategies to Improve Motor Skills. 

With a wide range of indoor and outdoor motor skills activities, kids can choose any set of activities. 

These opportunities guide them to explore new things. And help them grow in every aspect of physical growth. 

Make gross motor skills activities part of kids’ lives by simply adding them to their daily routine. 

From a simple walk to dancing, each activity makes kids stronger. So, get moving and make exercise fun for each child!

Skills