Gross motor skills

Gross motor skills activities

Messy play (e.g. finger painting, shaving cream foam, water or sand play) using two hands
together
Toys that can be pulled apart with two hands e.g. magnets
Skipping, wheelbarrow walks
Stacking games
Clapping/tapping games with hands (e.g. pat a cake) or action songs e.g. ‘The wheels on the
bus’
Ball games (kicking, throwing and catching)
Balloon games (e.g. hitting balloon with a soft bat)
Cooking activities – such as using a manual egg whisk or holding a bowl in one hand while
beating with the other hand
Obstacle courses
Jumping or trampolining
Swimming
Riding a bicycle
Car cleaning or window cleaning
Parachute games
Rolling on mat keeping in a straight line, first with hand by sides then hands above head.
Dribble ball / move in and out of cones.
Musical statues or bumps.
Move around the room and go to one side when a word is called – e.g. port / starboard.
Move around and make a shape with body e.g. mouse, tree, mushroom aeroplane.

Stand with one foot on box or a ball for a timed activity then progress to playing games.
Trampoline, Scooter, Balance boards.
Use bouncy castle type equipment.
Walk on stepping stones / uneven ground or a low wall etc.
Walk along wide line – then get narrower, next use a bench – right way then upturned.
Rope-bridge in adventure playgrounds.
Use the ‘rope planks’ where 2 / 3 children hold the rope and step on the plank in unison.

Make 4 / 3 and 2 point balances – e.g. both hands and feet, then raise one hand or foot, then a hand and a foot.
Walking with hands and feet on the ground like a: bear / crab etc then progress to waving / shaking hands with partner or kicking / dribbling a ball.
Wheelbarrow with a partner – keep head facing front and pelvis straight
Bunny hops kicking feet out behind.
Twirl a skipping rope.
Stretch out arms, make circles in the air.
Hold bat at arms-length and make circles in the air.
Press ups with knees on the floor.
Climb up wall bars; Pull along a bench.
Big arm movements e.g. painting with water on a wall, with paint on wallpaper with thick chalk on a wall etc.
Pushing objects e.g. trolley, pram, small wheelbarrow etc. Light at first, then add weight.
Tug of war.
Throwing at a high / target far away.

Sit – ups; Rock backwards and forward in a tucked position.
Rock sideways in a tucked position.
Lying on back on a mat, curl into a ball and try not to fall over.
Be part of a story acting out an animal which curls up e.g. hedgehog, cat, snake, wood louse. Curl up tight don’t let anyone unfold you.
Lie on an exercise ball on your back and lift your head up to look around, read something, or watch something.