In our modern day, where we are constantly plugged into some digital device or the other, it is easy to forget how important gross motor activities are.
It is true that gross motor skills are often neglected with the focus on fine and small motor skills.
However, developing gross motor skills can have long-term benefits for your child’s health and well-being.
Large motor activities are important because they help develop strength, balance, and coordination. These gross motor skills lay the foundation for future academic success and provide the opportunity to explore and experiment in the world around them.
Toddlers are meant to move, and when they don’t enough opportunities to burn their energy, they can become cranky, fussy, and difficult to handle.
In this blog post, you will find out everything you need to know about toddler gross motor skills and some easy ideas and gross motor activities to try out today!
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Toddler Gross Motor Development: What to Expect!
From 12 to 36 months, toddler gross motor development really takes off!
Your toddler will likely learn to walk during this time, and will also start to run, climb and jump.
All of these new physical skills require the coordinated use of large muscles groups, and your toddler will continue to develop their gross motor skills as they learn how to control their body movements.
During this time, you may also notice your toddler beginning to engage in more purposeful movements, such as being able to throw and kick a ball.
As your toddler’s gross motor skills continue to develop, they will become better able to explore their surroundings and interact with the world around them.
You can read my full post about toddler motor skills here.
Benefits of Utilizing Gross Motor Movement Throughout Your Day
Gross motor movements are any movements that involve large muscle groups, such as the arms, legs, and trunk.
These movements help to build strength and coordination, and can also be used to burn off excess energy.
Toddlers are full of energy, and gross motor activities can help to tire them out so that they’re more likely to take a nap or go to bed at night.
Utilizing gross motor movements throughout the day is a great way to ensure that your toddler stays active and healthy.
Plus, it’s a lot of fun!
Let’s talk about some of the different ways you can build gross motor skills during the day.
Promoting Gross Motor Skills Through Daily Routines
One of the best ways to ensure that your toddler receives enough gross motor practice is by integrating gross motor activities into your daily routine.
There are many different ways to do this, and we will discuss a few of them below.
The important thing to remember is to pick ideas that work for you and your family!
Think about ways you could incorporate gross motor activity into the things that you are doing every day.
Time for some examples!
Develop Gross Motor Skills While Doing the Laundry
Doing laundry with your child offers so many different ways to build and practice new skills.
Here are a few gross motor skills your child can practice while you do the laundry:
Sorting the dirty clothes into piles: This is a great opportunity to work on carrying larger objects-sorting is also a pre-academic skill!
Putting the clothes into the washing machine: Your child can help by putting the clothes in, and then pushing the buttons to start to encourage fine motor skills as well.
Hanging the clothes on the line: This is a chance to practice gross motor skills like walking and reaching.
Folding the clothes: This can be done together as a family and is another opportunity to practice fine motor skills like grasping and folding. Your child will need to watch imitate what you are doing which is a great way to work on imitation which is essential for learning new skills.
Pushing the laundry basket: Moving the laundry basket from one place to another can be a great way to get gross motor practice in as well!
Throwing Clothes in Hamper: Practice skills by throwing socks or clothes in the hamper instead of just setting them in.
Utilize toddler chores to get things done while they learn!
Work on Large Motor Skills During Outdoor Chores
There are so many things that need to be done outdoors, and they offer great gross motor opportunities for your toddler!
Some outdoor gross motor activities include:
Raking Leaves: When your child helps with raking leaves they are working on gross motor skills like walking, bending, and reaching.
Pushing a Wheelbarrow: This is great for gross motor skill development, as well as working those important trunk muscles. Your child could use a kid-size one like this to move things about the yard.
Digging in the Dirt: Your child can help dig in the garden or just in a sandbox. This gives them a chance to practice gross motor skills such as squatting and work on fine motor skills as well.
Picking up sticks: Before we mow the lawn we always have to pick up sticks around the yard. This is something that my children have liked to help with. As with all activities always make sure to supervise!
Washing the Car: This is a great activity for gross motor skills and for sensory play as well. Your child can help by spraying the hose, wiping down the car with a sponge, and much more!
Develop Gross Motor Skills While Cleaning Up
Cleaning up isn’t just a chore for adults.
It can also be an opportunity for toddlers to develop important gross motor skills.
For example, picking up toys to put them in a toy box requires them to squat down, grasp a toy, and then walk to put it in.
When we break it down you can see how many skills are used doing that one small task!
Sweeping the floor with a child-sized broom develops balance and coordination.
Washing windows provides an excellent arm workout!
You may want to skip out on the cleaning products and just give them a dry cloth so that they can pretend alongside of you.
So the next time your toddler is making a mess, consider it an opportunity for them to develop their gross motor skills.
With a little patience and guidance, they’ll be cleaning up like a pro in no time!
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Easy Outdoor Gross Motor Activities
There are lots of outdoor play activities that are fun and encourage physical development.
Using simple toys or things that you find outside can be a great place to start!
Hitting or throwing a ball: Playing catch or even just kicking a ball around are all great gross motor activities. These activities also help with hand-eye coordination.
Climbing on Play Equipment: The jungle gym at the park, the monkey bars, or even just climbing trees are all great gross motor activities for little ones. If you notice your child climbing everything indoors…it may be a sign that you need to build some climbing into their day!
Hiking: Going for a hike is a chance to explore gross motor skills like walking and running while also getting some fresh air!
Ride-on or push toys: Riding and push toys are a great option for kids who are just starting to explore their mobility (get more outdoor toys for toddler ideas here.) From simple sit-and-ride toys to bigger trikes and wagons, these types of toys give kids a chance to practice using their legs and feet to propel themselves forward. As kids get more confident with their gross motor skills, they can start trying out more complex riding and push toys, like scooters.
Burn Energy with Fun Indoor Gross Motor Activities
Indoor gross motor play is just as important as outdoor gross motor play!
Indoor gross motor activities are a great way to help your toddler work on their large muscle groups.
Some simple ideas include setting up an obstacle course using couch cushions, pillows, and chairs, or playing catch or other throwing games with a soft ball.
You can also put on some music and have a dance party, or play Simon Says focusing on physical movement.
These busy toddler activities are fun for your little one and will help them develop the gross motor skills they need for everyday life.
Have fun with movement!
No matter if you’re inside or outside, gross motor activities are a great way to keep toddlers occupied with new skills.
You can do gross motor activities while they clean up around the house or when they play in their room! If your toddler seems restless and uninterested at home, try inviting them to explore different gross motor opportunities outdoors like hiking, playing with ride-on toys, or visiting the park.
Most importantly find ways to have fun and connect with one another!
For simple ideas and strategies like this make sure to check out my Inspire Learning Course and Calandars for Toddlers!
Frequently Asked Questions
Gross motor activities are any activities that use large muscle groups to move the body.
Some examples of gross motor activities include walking, running, climbing, crawling, riding a bike, and swimming.
Gross motor skills are important for everyday tasks such as sitting up, standing, going up and downstairs, walking, and running.
They also help with coordination and balance so that we don’t fall and get hurt!
Gross motor skills should be developed from a young age.
Babies start working on their gross motor skills from very early on!
There is no one “best” gross motor activity for a toddler.
It is important to let them explore different gross motor activities to find what they enjoy and are good at.
Some popular gross motor activities for toddlers include playing catch, climbing on playground equipment, riding a bike, and hiking.
Gross motor skills are skills that use the large muscle groups in our body to move.
They help us with everyday tasks such as sitting up, standing, walking, and running.
Gross motor skills also help with coordination and balance.
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Kayla O’Neill has a master’s degree in education as well as a bachelor’s degree in special education with an emphasis in early childhood education. She has been working as a developmental therapist with babies and toddlers in early intervention since 2012. She is also a mom with two young children.