10 Fun Gross Motor Development Activities for Toddlers
Gross motor skills are very important for toddlers as they grow and discover their physical abilities.
It is vital for making sure that you raise a well-adjusted individual who understands their body’s needs. It is also important to help in their development at this time as it is the age where toddlers find it easier to learn new things at this age, making it the optimal time to introduce educational activities.
Doing activities that help cultivate these skills not only helps their physical development but also improves how well they coordinate and feel sure of themselves -- making it crucial when it comes to children with different needs.
With this, we'll look at 10 fun activities for inside and outside the house to help toddlers develop their gross motor skills effectively!
Let’s dive right in!
Gross Motor Activities for Every Child
Obstacle Course Adventures
Make them a safe space to be able to roam around and explore their surroundings!
When you’re inside, try to design a small obstacle course with cushions, pillows, and tunnels. Encourage your toddler to crawl under, climb over, and go through the course. This helps them get better at coordinating their movements, improve balance, and understanding space.
Dance Party
Get them moving!
Put on lively music and have a dance party. Toddlers enjoy moving to the beat, which helps them learn balance, rhythm, and control over their muscles. Encourage them to try different dance moves like jumping, spinning, and stomping.
This not only gives them the freedom to move around safely but also becomes a bonding activity for you and your children.
Sensory Play with Playdough
Introduce soft sensory-inducing toys to increase your child’s curiosity.
Playing with playdough by rolling, squeezing, and shaping it sparks children’s creativity. Not only that, it also makes hand muscles stronger, and helps eyes and hands work together better. Give them tools like cookie cutters and rolling pins for more fun and skill-building.
Balloon Volleyball
Introduce them to sports from a young age!
Blow up a balloon and gently tap it back and forth with your toddler. This simple game improves hand-eye coordination, concentration, and gross motor skills like reaching and swatting.
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Use nature to your advantage and engage your toddler.
Go for a walk in nature and make a game to find things like leaves, rocks, and flowers. Toddlers can practise walking, bending, and reaching while they explore outside, which helps them stay balanced and coordinated.
Animal Walks
Now, while this may seem to be unorthodox, it’s actually a way for you to develop not just their motor skills but their imagination as well!
Encourage your toddler to copy animal movements, like hopping like a bunny, crawling like a bear, or walking sideways like a crab. These activities help improve big movements and make learning how to move around fun and interesting.
You can make this activity fun by doing the same and making it a sound-game that connects them with you!
Water Play
Introduce them to water play to help develop their motor skills, which they can eventually use for swimming.
Fill a bowl or kiddie pool with water and let your toddler splash, pour, and scoop with cups and toys. Playing with water makes muscles stronger, helps coordination, and gives them lots of different feelings to explore.
Play ‘Simon Says…’
This game is a fun one for toddlers of all ages!
Play ‘Simon Says…’ with actions like jumping, clapping, and stretching. This fun game helps toddlers practise listening, follow directions, and move their bodies.
Bike or Tricycle Riding
Encourage your toddler to ride a small bike or tricycle under supervision. Riding bikes strengthens leg muscles, improves balance, and teaches coordination and spatial awareness.
Yoga for Toddlers
Simplify yoga poses like downward dog, tree pose, and butterfly pose for toddlers. Yoga promotes flexibility, strength, and body awareness, supporting overall gross motor development.
In all of these activities, just make sure that you have a positive mindset and encourage them throughout each one to make sure that they do not develop a negative connotation towards any of these activities. This will make it easier for you to integrate it into their daily routine.
By engaging in these activities regularly, you'll not only contribute to their physical well-being but also create lasting memories of fun and learning. Start today and watch your toddler thrive in their gross motor skills journey!
Looking for a Partner for Your Child’s Development?
Helping your children develop their movements with fun activities is essential in making sure you aid all aspects of their developments. Try these activities one by one and see which one they like best!
If you need toys to help you achieve these activities, The OT Store has gross motor toys and see how they can help in your child’s development!
Make sure to check out our website for more child-friendly toys that will spark creativity and improve their cognitive and physical development. Let us become your partner in your children’s development today!