Harness the power of play with these fun low-prep gross motor activities for preschoolers! Sponsored by Little Tikes®
Mr. Rogers once said that “Play is the work of childhood” — what a wonderful perspective!
Play is of course a way for kids to relax and just be kids. However, there are many developmental benefits to play as well, such as improving gross motor skills.
What are Gross Motor Skills and Why are they Important?
Gross motor skills are movements that involve the entire body, such as jumping or walking. Those big movements also translate to better muscle tone, balance, and coordination that is helpful in almost all daily activities.
Developing gross motor skills helps toddlers and preschoolers:
- Get dressed
- Use the bathroom
- Sit at the table
- Walk on a variety of surfaces
- Climb up and down stairs
- Build muscle control needed to improve fine motor skills
Does Play Help with Fine and Gross Motor Skills?
Absolutely 100% yes!!
In fact, play is one of the best ways for kids to practice and develop gross motor skills because it doesn’t feel like work. Kids move and exercise without even knowing it!
Developing Gross Motor Skills Through Play
Gross motor play activities don’t need to be complicated or require a lot of setup. Simple activities can be highly effective. The main focus is to get kids moving and have fun!
10 Low or No-Prep Gross Motor Play Activities
- Taking walks as a family
- Exploring playground equipment
- Incorporating an active play toy, such as the Little Tikes® Tumble Train™
- Blowing bubbles outside
- Dancing
- Jumping jacks and simple calisthenics
- Easy yoga poses
- Playing catch or passing a ball (learn more about the benefits of sports for kids here!)
- Backyard obstacle course
- Riding a trike, scooter, or bicycle (Little Tikes® has a lot of great options for all ages in this department!)
One of our Favorite Toys for Gross Motor Play
The Little Tikes® Tumble Train™ has been a BIG hit with my two younger daughters, ages 3 and 7. All you do is snap the colorful track pieces together and the Tumble Train™ gets things moving…literally!
As the Tumble Train™ drives, the track moves with it. You can build the track into a sphere, so that it rolls and tumbles around the room (this was my kid’s favorite!) The train changes directions unexpectedly, so the track movement is exciting and unpredictable. The adjustable track allows for multiple configurations, so you can switch things up anytime.
The train itself features a headlight and LED lights, plus fun train sounds that keep kids engaged. (But no worries…it’s not too loud!)
The Tumble Train™ encourages gross motor play because kids can’t help but want to run and chase it as it moves about the room. My girls played with it for hours! So much laughing and it was great exercise for them too!
The Tumble Train™ is a part of the Little Tikes® Learn & Play™ line of toys, designed for teaching preschool basics through active play.
Shop Little Tikes® Tumble Train™ and check out the rest of the Learn & Play™ line here!
Make Time for Play
With school, activities, etc. taking up a lot of the day, it’s important that we as parents make time for our kids to have unstructured, free play.
In addition to being good physically, play will also benefit their mental well-being.
All you need to do is give your kids time, space, and perhaps a fun-sparking toy like the Tumble Train™. They’ll take care of the rest!
You might also like:
10 Skills Kids Should Learn in Preschool
8 Benefits of Outdoor Play for Kids
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