These skills are essential for everyday activities and form the foundation for more complex movements like balancing, coordination, and overall body control. Developing them helps children build confidence in movement and sets the foundation for an active lifestyle, which is linked to good health.

There is also an array of secondary benefits when your child gets moving with gross motor activities. These kinds of play don’t just build strength and coordination; they also help children develop and enhance social skills, improve focus for learning, and even sleep better at night.

Fun and Easy Ideas for Parents

Luckily, supporting your child’s gross motor development doesn’t require fancy equipment or structured workouts. All it takes is some creative ideas and a lot of play. Here are some simple ways to help your child build strength, coordination, and confidence in their big movements.

1. Move Outdoors

Any open space is perfect for working on gross motor skills—whether that’s your backyard, a sports oval, the local playground, or nearby walking trails.

• Playground Time: Try all the different types of equipment: slides, swings, monkey bars and balance beams. Playgrounds offer opportunities to build strength, coordination, agility, and spatial awareness.

• Obstacle Courses: Create a mini obstacle course with ropes, hula hoops, cones, or toys to climb over, crawl under, or hop around.

• Nature Walks: Walking on uneven terrain (like grassy parks or bush trails) helps with balance and leg strength.

2. Play Indoors

If you don’t have access to the outdoors, or if the weather isn’t on your side, you can still get your child moving indoors.

• Dance Parties: Crank up the music and let your child boogie, jump, twirl, and stomp. Dancing is a full-body workout and lots of fun. It can also help to release any pent-up emotions.

• Ball Games: Rolling, tossing, and kicking a soft ball indoors can help with coordination and timing. Clear away any breakables in the room and have some fun.

• Animal Walks: Pretend to be different animals. Hop like a kangaroo, crawl like a tiger, or waddle like a penguin. These activities are also great for your child’s imagination.

• Indoor Obstacle Course: Use cushions, beanbags, or blankets and climb, crawl and hop—just like in an outdoor course.

3. Introduce Basic Sports

Introducing basic sports skills helps with coordination, balance, and strength.

• Kicking a Ball: Set up a target or goal and practice kicking with both feet.

• Throwing and Catching: Start with a large, soft ball and gradually move to smaller ones as your child gains confidence. Toddlers may prefer rolling and catching, while preschoolers might enjoy aiming or timed challenges.

• Jumping and Hopping: Use chalk or tape to create lines or shapes for your child to jump over or hop between. You can also use long pieces of elastic tied between posts or trees to create “safe” hurdles. 

4. Water-Based Play

Water provides gentle resistance, which is great for building muscle and coordination.

• Swimming Lessons: Enrol in local swimming classes. This will help build endurance, coordination, and strength. It also teaches them a valuable safety skill.

• Pool Play: Take your child to the local pool and get in the water with them. Get them kicking their legs and pushing off the side of the pool, with you there for support.

• Bathtub Fun: Playing with pouring cups or balancing on knees in shallow water builds strength in a playful setting.

5. Build Balance & Coordination

Balance is a big part of gross motor development and can be practiced in fun ways.

• Walk the Line: Tape a line on the floor and challenge your child to walk heel-to-toe along it like a tightrope.

• Standing on One Foot: Have them practice balancing on one foot while brushing their teeth or waiting in line. You can even introduce it as a game to see who lasts the longest!

• Yoga for Kids: Simple poses like tree, downward-dog, or butterfly can help with body awareness and flexibility. 

6. Limit Screen Time, Boost Active Time

While screens are a part of modern life, it’s important to balance them with movement.

• Active Breaks: Set timers for short dance or stretch breaks in between screen time.

• Interactive Games: Choose video games that get kids up and moving, like motion-based or dance games such as Ring Fit Adventure and Just Dance.

Final Thought: Keep It Playful and Positive

Every child develops at their own pace, so focus on encouraging progress rather than perfection. Celebrate their efforts, be patient, and most importantly—have fun with it! If your child doesn’t enjoy a particular activity, try an alternative idea. When movement is enjoyable, kids are more likely to keep practicing and growing their gross motor skills naturally.