Gross motor skills help children move confidently through everyday life. Running, jumping, climbing, balancing, throwing and catching all rely on the large muscles in the body. These skills support not only physical activity, but also posture, coordination, confidence and participation in play.

The good news is that building gross motor skills does not need to feel like exercise. With the right activities, children can strengthen balance and coordination through fun, active play at home, school or in therapy settings.

Here are eight simple gross motor skills activities for kids to try.

1. Balance Board Play

A balance board is a simple way to encourage core strength, stability and body awareness. Children can start by standing with both feet on the board and trying to keep it level. As their confidence grows, they can try gentle rocking, reaching for objects or balancing for longer periods.

Balance boards are useful because they challenge the body to make small adjustments, which supports coordination and postural control. They can also be used during play, making the activity feel less structured.

2. Stepping Stone Courses

Stepping stones are a great way to practise balance, planning and coordination. Set them up in a line, zigzag pattern or simple obstacle course and encourage children to move from one to the next without touching the floor.

You can make the activity easier or harder by changing the distance between each step. For younger children, keep the stones close together. For older children, add turns, colour instructions or different movement patterns.

3. Mini Trampoline Time

Jumping is a powerful gross motor activity. A mini trampoline can help children practise leg strength, rhythm, balance and controlled movement.

Start with simple two foot jumps, then introduce small challenges such as:

• jump and stop
• count five jumps
• jump slowly, then quickly
• reach up while jumping

Always supervise trampoline play and follow the product’s age and safety guidelines.

4. Animal Walks

Animal walks are one of the easiest gross motor activities to do without equipment.

Try movements such as:

Bear walk: hands and feet on the floor
Crab walk: hands and feet with tummy facing upward
Frog jumps: squat low and jump forward
Duck walk: walk in a low squat
Bunny hops: small two foot jumps

These activities strengthen different muscle groups while also improving coordination and motor planning. They are especially useful for short movement breaks.

5. Sensory Swing Movement

A sensory swing can encourage balance, core activation and body awareness through controlled movement. Depending on the swing style, children may sit, lie or hold different positions while swinging gently. This can help them practise stability while the body responds to changes in direction and movement.

Sensory swings can be especially useful in home, school or therapy environments where movement is part of a broader sensory routine.The type of swing and level of movement should always match the child’s age, ability and comfort.

6. Obstacle Courses

Obstacle courses combine several gross motor skills in one activity.

You might include:

• stepping stones
• cushions to climb over
• a tunnel to crawl through
• a balance board
• a line to walk along
• a target to throw a ball into

Obstacle courses are great for building coordination because children need to plan and adjust their movements as they go. They can also be easily changed to keep the activity interesting.

7. Throwing and Catching Games

Ball games are useful for hand-eye coordination, timing and whole body movement. Start with a large, soft ball and practise simple rolling or two handed catching.

As children become more confident, try:

• throwing into a basket
• bouncing and catching
• catching from different distances
• throwing while standing on a balance cushion

These activities can be adapted for different ages and skill levels.

8. Wobble Cushion or Swivel Chair Activities

A wobble cushion or movement seat can add a balance challenge to everyday activities. For example, a child might sit on a wobble cushion while reaching for puzzle pieces or stand on it while tossing bean bags into a container.

Swivel or rotating equipment can also support coordination and body awareness when used appropriately. The key is to make the movement purposeful rather than simply adding instability.

Why Gross Motor Skills Matter

Gross motor development supports much more than sport.

Strong gross motor skills can help children with:

• playground participation
• posture and sitting
• dressing and daily routines
• confidence in movement
• coordination during games
• navigating stairs and uneven surfaces

Every child develops at their own pace, so activities should be enjoyable and matched to their current ability.

How to Make Gross Motor Activities More Fun

Children are more likely to stay engaged when activities feel like play. Try turning movement into a challenge or story. For example, stepping stones can become “rocks across a river,” a tunnel can become a “cave,” and a balance board can become a “surfboard.”

You can also let children choose the order of activities or help design their own obstacle course. Small choices can make movement activities feel more motivating.

Gross Motor Activities at Home, School and Therapy

Many gross motor activities can be adapted to different environments. At home, simple equipment such as balance boards, stepping stones and mini trampolines can support active play.

In schools, movement breaks and obstacle courses can help children reset between seated tasks. In therapy settings, gross motor equipment may be used as part of a more structured developmental or sensory plan.

The most important thing is to choose activities that are safe, achievable and enjoyable.

Order or Contact Happy Square

Happy Square operates from Narre Warren, Victoria and sells sensory and educational products online throughout Australia.

Happy Square AU

Address:
Unit 6, 4 Vesper Drive
Narre Warren VIC 3805
Australia

Phone:
04 3075 0122

Email:
admin@happysquare.com.au

The current Happy Square homepage lists these primary contact details.

Ordering & Enquiry Details

Customers can:

• Browse and order products directly through the Happy Square online store
• Shop by sensory or developmental skill
• Submit an NDIS order
• Request an NDIS invoice
• Arrange school or clinic orders
• Submit purchase orders
• Apply for a school, clinic or NDIS trade account
• Contact the team through the website contact form
• Call 04 3075 0122 for assistance

NDIS Orders

For NDIS purchases, Happy Square provides a dedicated ordering process where customers complete the NDIS form, select their products, proceed through checkout and choose the NDIS payment option.

For parents, carers, schools or clinics who are unsure which product category to start with, browsing by the activity you want to support such as movement, fine motor play, sensory stimulation or routines can make choosing the right tool much easier.