Finding new and fun ideas to engage your young child can be a challenge. We tend to get stuck offering our kids the same activities over and over again. The ideas listed below are designed to help bring some muscle power to your kid's routine. Read on to find forty gross motor activities that will work your child's motor skills by involving the entire body. Big muscle groups in the legs, back, and core will be used as your child builds body awareness and motor development.
1. Let's Get Moving Action Cards
Place these cards into an action jar and head outside for some major muscle movements. Kids will enjoy working their finger coordination by picking up the cards and then completing whatever is pictured. Each picture contains a spelled-out word so children can build word association.
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2. Trampoline
An outdoor trampoline is a perfect way for kids to build core muscles. Kids can keep their bodies stable by utilizing the handlebar. Alternatively, take the handlebar away for an additional balance challenge. Either way, your toddler is bound to have so much fun bouncing around on this trampoline, they won't even realize they are engaging in physical activity!
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3. Ultimate Sidewalk Chalk
Chalk designs are so much fun to make. Kids use their entire body as they crouch down low to draw chalk circles. Having a variety of colors helps your child stay engaged longer as they turn your driveway into a colorful rainbow. Chalk lines, here we come!
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4. Chalk Hopscotch
Bring the hopping from the trampoline together with chalk to make a hopscotch game. Children use their larger muscles to jump, hop, and stabilize through the boxes. The best part? Adding numbers to the boxes may help your child learn their numbers while they hop about the driveway.
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5. Mud Kitchen
An old wooden pallet has been used to create this outdoor kitchen. Add in old utensils, pitchers, or colanders for a variety of sensory activities. You can also buy some from a second-hand store. Playing outdoor kitchen will allow your child to imagine themselves as a real kitchen helper. Kids will use their arm muscles to clean dishes and dump out the water, all while watering the grass.
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6. Playground Play
This is by far the simplest way to improve muscle tone, get outside, and work on motor development activities. Make it your mission this summer to find every playground in a ten-mile radius and visit one per weekend. It is a great free way to spend the afternoon. Here's a random tip: toddlers can use a baby swing as a basket for basketball.
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7. Water Table Sponges
Grab a bucket of water and add in some tied-up sponges. Small children will work their tiny hand muscles as they squeeze out water and watch how it drips. This is such a simple yet fun and engaging activity.
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8. Bubbles
Bubbles are always a fun activity. Turn it into a game with friends by seeing who can pop the most bubbles! Does your child consistently dump bubbles out? Try this tip: tape the bottle to the leg of an outdoor table or chair so your child can continuously dip for more bubbles without waste.
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9. Dance Party
This video has fifteen songs with movements! Place your tablet on the outdoor deck or patio and have your child dance along. Join in the fun for some toddler bonding plus exercise!
Learn More: Patty Shukla Kids TV - Children's songs
10. Water Balloons
Do you love water balloon activities but despise the tiny little plastic pieces all over your yard? These balloons with water are reusable. Just fill, throw, pop, and repeat! Throwing water balloons is always a great activity for toddlers.
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11. Obstacle Course
Grab some hula hoops and cones to make an outdoor obstacle course. Toddlers will love moving through the course you have set out. Add an extra challenge by timing each round! Can your toddler beat their previous time?
Learn More: CECE Early Childhood Videos at Eastern CT State U.
12. Ride a Tricycle
Is your kid not yet ready for a bicycle but wants to ride around? A tricycle is a great option for hand-eye and hand-feet coordination all in one. Be sure to have your helmet on for safety! If you are not into the tricycle vibe, check out item number thirty-two for balance bike ideas.
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13. Jungle Gym
Who knew something so simple and basic could offer such an adventure? Jungle gyms are a fantastic way for your little one to maneuver around uneven surfaces and use larger movements to stabilize. Kids can climb, swing, hide, and stabilize on this jungle gym.
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14. Beach Balls
This ball can be used for so much more than just throwing around the beach at sunset. Add it to an obstacle course or a trampoline to encourage some coordination with balls. Here's a tip: use a sharpie to add movement ideas to each color on the ball. When your child tosses the ball, they have to complete the movement that their right or left thumb lands on.
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15. Laundry Basket Push Play
Have your child place their favorite items in a laundry basket and then push it around! Fill the basket with bags for activities they can do later. Hamstrings and lower back muscles will be working hard to push this basket around the yard.
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16. Game of Soccer
A soccer ball is a key tool for bilateral coordination. Kids will learn how to run, kick, and aim all at once. Pick the ball up for an additional motor skill activity using your hands.
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17. Giant Lawn Matching Game
Take this fabulous activity for preschoolers outdoors with giant matching cards. Kids will have to move around the grass as they try to remember where the matches are.
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18. Homemade Balance Beam
Try some single-leg balance on this on-the-ground beam.
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19. Balls for Children
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It's juggle time! It's so great for physical development. Kids can work on their grip strength as they grab and toss these balls.
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20. Children's Dress-Up Items
My son absolutely loves this dress-up item. The flashlight is thumb activated so no batteries are required. All your child has to do is squeeze the lever with their thumb to get the lights shining. Every item shown here fits nicely back into the bag provided for easy clean-up. Finding and catching bugs has never been so exciting.
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21. Giant Blocks
Check out these giant building blocks for the yard. Jumbo blocks are so much fun for playing Jenga and creating towers. These jumbo building blocks are sure to entertain all ages of the family.
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22. Ladder Flat Play
Take this indoor obstacle onto the grass! Create these right and left foot signs for kids to follow as they walk through the ladder. Make it more exciting with an animal walk by encouraging your child to walk through the ladder as if they were the animal of their choice. Just don't use a typical household ladder for this as it may cause a tripping hazard.
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23. Basketball Hoop
Would your toddler love to play basketball but cannot reach the hoop? Try investing in a shorter basketball hoop so they can work on their hand-eye coordination.
Learn More: Play N Basketball
24. Outdoor Ramps with Sandbags
I love the dynamic surface pictured here. Add to your kid's active summer with this sand, marble, or ball ramp.
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25. Play Tunnel
Activities for toddlers, here we come! Crawling through this tunnel is wonderful for building arm strength. The great thing about these tunnels is they collapse into a single ring for easy storage.
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26. Textured Sensory Mat
These mats are wonderful for babies who are learning to crawl or are still engaging in tummy time. Place these mats on your deck or patio for a super sensory tummy time adventure!
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27. Ring Hop Scotch
A new hopscotch idea. The holes with feet rings are great for tip-toeing and working calf muscles.
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28. Feet Painting
Goodbye finger painting, hello foot painting! Make sure your little one is wearing an item of clothing you don't mind getting dirty for this brilliant idea! This extra summer idea is so simple yet excitingly fun.
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29. Round Up the Balls Game
All you need is a hula hoop and some balls or other light items for kids to place into the hula hoop. Place the items all around the yard and instruct your child that the hula hoop is home base.
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30. Red Light, Green Light!
If you yell "green light" then everyone moves. If you yell "red light" then everyone must stop. Whoever makes it across the line first wins! Make it extra fun by adding in some silly body poses with each red light.
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31. Sink or Float Experiment
Start this activity by finding items around the yard like leaves, sticks, and rocks. Then have your child make an educated guess about whether each item will sink or float. Talk to your kid about why the piece of nature will behave that way in the water. Then toss the items into the water one at a time as your child observes if their prediction was correct.
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32. Balance Bike
These bikes do not have pedals but they teach your child how to stay balanced on two wheels as they use hand-eye coordination for steering. Many parents report their child never had to use training wheels after learning how to ride a bicycle via the balance bike.
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33. Gardening
Gardening is one of the absolute best child experiences. It teaches kids how to be patient while they wait for what they planted to grow. Gardening also teaches kids how to care for living things, the importance of water consumption, and how sunlight placement affects a plant's ability to grow.
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34. Monkey Bars
Monkey bars are by far one of the best bodyweight exercises. Shoulder muscles get a real workout as kids swing from one bar to the next. Core muscles engage as your child works their way from one monkey bar to the next.
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35. Classic Simon Says
There is so much motor coordination in this game as kids attempt to copy whatever Simon is requesting they do. Since it can be hard to come up with new ideas for what Simon wants others to do, this article provides fresh insight into this classic game.
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36. Large Dart Board
Hand-eye coordination and number learning all in one! My son has kept himself busy outside for over twenty minutes trying to stick the Velcro balls to this felt circle. The circle comes with a suction cup so this can easily adhere to multiple surfaces. I personally like suctioning it to the sliding glass door.
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37. Better Than Inflatable Pool
Tired of blowing up an inflatable pool every summer but don't like having to store a hard plastic pool during the winter? This easily collapsible and durable pool offers the solution. An entire animal and a few kids can fit in here!
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38. Play Garden
Separate from the true gardening suggestion before in 33, this play garden is specifically designed for your child's muscle movements. Everything is kept in a confined space for imaginative play.
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39. Potato Sack Race
Adding movement with games is what the potato sack race is all about. Kids will engage their abdominal muscles as they hop around the yard in these multicolored sacks.
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40. Dirt Pile Construction Site
Having a designated spot in your yard for a dirt pile is key. Yes, it is messy but so worth it! My son will play with Tonka Trucks in his dirt pile for hours. Add some rocks for additional excavator fun!
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