Simple Gross Motor Techniques to Try at Home

Fun, easy ways to help your child move, grow, and thrive.

Gross motor skills are the building blocks of movement. They help children sit, stand, walk, jump, climb, and play. Developing these skills is essential not only for physical health, but also for social interaction, emotional regulation, and academic success (yes, even sitting still in class takes core strength).

The best part? You don’t need fancy equipment or a gym to help your child build gross motor skills. Here are a few fun and simple gross motor activities you can try at home.

Obstacle Courses

Age Range: 18 months–5 years What It Works On: Balance, coordination, core strength, spatial awareness

How to Do It: Lay out a path of pillows, couch cushions, or rolled-up blankets across the floor. Invite your child to jump from one to the next without touching the ground (the floor is lava!) You can also include tunnels under chairs, steps, or crawling challenges. The goal is to get your child moving in different positions and on different surfaces.

Make It More Fun: Use painter’s tape to create a “path” on the floor or add a stuffed animal rescue mission at the end.

Animal Walks

Age Range: 2–6 years What It Works On: Strength, balance, bilateral coordination, motor planning

How to Do It: Call out animals and have your child move like them across the room:

• Bear Walk: On hands and feet with hips up.

• Frog Jump: Squat down and leap forward.

• Snake Slither: Wiggle across the floor on belly.

• Penguin Shuffle: Heels together, waddle side to side.

Why It’s Great: Animal walks build body awareness and get kids moving in creative, engaging ways. Great for indoor play on rainy days!

Balloon Volleyball

Age Range: 2.5 years and up What It Works On: Hand-eye coordination, reaction time, upper body control

How to Do It: Blow up a balloon and try to keep it in the air by hitting it back and forth. Encourage your child to use their hands, feet, and even elbows to keep the balloon in the air.

Make It More Fun: Add a couch cushion or painter’s tape “net” or try using two balloons for extra challenge.

Painter’s Tape Balance Beam

Age Range: 18 months–5 years What It Works On: Balance, core strength, postural control, concentration

How to Do It: Stick a strip of painter’s tape on the floor to make a line. Challenge your child to walk heel-to-toe across it like a balance beam. Change it up with zig-zags, curves, or figure-eights.

Add Variety: Walk forward, backward, or sideways and add a jump at the end!

Laundry Basket Push or Pull

Age Range: 1–4 years What It Works On: Leg strength, pushing/pulling skills, coordination, proprioception

How to Do It: Fill a laundry basket with soft toys or books to add weight. Let your child push it across the floor (great on hardwood or tile). Or pull it with a rope or scarf tied to the front.

Why It’s Great: This activity provides “heavy work,” which is calming for many kids and helps build core and leg muscles.

Final Thoughts

Gross motor play is more than just fun. It’s an important part of your child’s development. These easy activities not only support physical skills, but also help with focus, confidence, and emotional regulation.

Always supervise your child during physical play, especially if balance or jumping is involved. Be sure to follow your child’s lead during these games. If they’re not interested in one activity, don't force it - find another activity or try again tomorrow!

Looking for more ways to support your child’s movement skills? Our team at Therapy Redefined  is here to help you meet your child where they are and get them moving forward!

Contact Us To Schedule An Appointment