Take-Home - Gross Motor - ECE Resource Hub

TAKE-HOME STRATEGY

Supporting Gross Motor Skills at Home

What It's About

We use Gross Motor skills anytime we use our large muscles, such as when we run, walk, balance, or climb. Your child is starting to move their body in new ways to achieve their goals and may be physically active for longer periods of time.

The best way to support these skills and build your child’s confidence is to offer lots of opportunities to move, play, and explore at their own pace.

Here are some ways you can support Gross Motor skills at home. Keep in mind that you can change these activities to work for you and your child, based on their current abilities, interests, and what you have available at home. Make sure to use safe materials and watch your child closely during these activities.

Take a look, and try out your favorites!

Obstacle Course

Set up a safe space for children to climb, crawl, stretch, jump, etc. Use items from around the home (such as chairs, boxes, pillows, tape on the ground) to create an obstacle course.

Yoga

Yoga, a practice that began in ancient India, links breath, movement, and strength. Lead your child through poses by showing each pose, then slowly move from one pose to the next.

Let's Explore

Go for a walk! Suggest ways to move their bodies as they explore. For example, “I wonder what is under there? Should we bend down and see?” or, “Look, there is a caterpillar up here. Stretch tall to see if you can see it.”

Shadow Dance Party

Create shadows with the sun, a bright light, or flashlight. Show your child how the shadow follows their movements. Create fun dance moves for the shadow to follow. For example, “I’m going to raise my arms up high and wave them around.”

Sock Toss

Set up a sock toss with a bucket or laundry basket. See how many balled up socks your child can throw or place into the basket. Count as they go! To expand the game, move the basket a little farther away or let them use different methods or tools (like a spoon) to throw the socks.

Follow the Leader

Have your child follow your movements and encourage them as they try new skills. Give them a chance to lead you and follow their movements. Offer suggestions if they need ideas. For example, “First, we clapped our hands, then patted our heads, what move should we do next?”

OPTIONAL SUPERHEAD

Quick Cues for Supporting Gross Motor Skills

Some things you might do or say to help strengthen your child’s Gross Motor Skills

Narrate Movements

Talk about the ways you and your child move your bodies. If needed, describe or show them how to do certain movements.

This can sound like:

“You are crawling to get the ball. I’m crawling with you. Here I come!”

“You are trying hard to jump, jump, jump!”

“I am going to hold my arms out to the side to help me balance.”

Let Them Try It

Encourage your child to try new and different movements.

This can sound like:

“You’re thirsty? I see your bottle on the table! Let’s stretch our arms to reach it.”

“You are climbing high. You can do it, one step at a time.”

“Let’s try to dribble the ball – that is where you bounce it up and down.”

Encourage Your Child to Copy Movement

Practice gross motor skills by having your child follow your movements.

This can sound like:

“I’m flapping my arms like a bird! Can you do the same thing?”

“I’m spinning my body in a circle. Can you do it, too?”

“I’m going to toss this beanbag into the basket. Now you try!”

Our Book Recommendations for Gross Motor Skills

Engaging stories that support children's Gross Motor Skills

We All Play

Written and illustrated by Julie Flett, this story features playful animals and Cree phrases as children move in ways that animals might.

Have fun with it:
Encourage your child to try out the movements they see, or to think of more animals to imitate.

Let's Dance

Written by Valerie Bolling and illustrated by Maine Diaz, this book travels around the world to show how different children move and groove.

Have fun with it:
This book may inspire you to have a dance party of your own!

More Take-Home Strategies

We’re creating a library of resources like these so families and other caregivers can quickly and easily promote children’s development at home. Be sure to see all the strategies we have available!