Therapist Approved: Gross-Motor Activities & Gifts
When the temperatures drop and the darkness sets in early, it’s easy for kids to get cooped up inside. But just because it’s winter doesn’t mean they have to slow down! Gross motor skills (the big movements like running, jumping, climbing, and balancing) are essential for your child’s physical and developmental growth. And the good news is, winter is the perfect time to get creative with activities that can help them stay active, strong, and healthy!
Here are a variety of winter-friendly gross motor activities, both indoors and outdoors, that will keep your kids moving, laughing, and building their strength, coordination, and confidence. Whether you’re bundling up for some fun outside on a sunny day or looking for engaging indoor ideas to burn off energy, we’ve got you covered! Let’s dive into some chilly but exciting ways to keep your little ones active all winter long:
Indoor Activities:
- Obstacle course: jumping, animal walks, stairs, climbing over/under pillows/couch cushions. Collect puzzle or game pieces each round
- Carrying a basket or bin to collect game or puzzle pieces; pushing/pulling basket/bin with weighted materials
- Wheelbarrow race
- Balloon volleyball: Use string/streamer/thick tape to divide the space, hit a balloon over the line to the other side with partner
- Floor is lava: use pillows, cushions, etc. as ‘safe zones’. Search YouTube for ‘floor is lava’ song, it has movement activities built in
- Indoor climbing gym/trampoline park
- Dance party
- Charades
- Movement breaks during commercials (if watching tv)
- Swimming at local pool
- Play a board game and add in steps or cards with movement, eg. crawl like a bear, jump like a frog, hop on 1 foot, run in place
- Hopscotch: use tape on the floor instead of chalk
- Go for an indoor walk: mall, store
- Youtube videos: yoga for kids/salamander yoga, floor is lava, kids dance classes/songs
- Race across the room with 2 pillows: step or hop to the next pillow, then reach for the prior pillow and place in front of you, continue to move across the room while only standing on one pillow at a time
- Scavenger hunt on scooter board or while walking like different animals
Outdoor Activities (consider using glow in the dark toys or wear reflective gear since it gets dark earlier)
- If it snows: snowball fights, building a fort, snow art w/ shovels, snowshoeing/skiing/tubing, snow angels
- Ice skating
- Neighborhood walks looking at Christmas lights or outdoor scavenger hunt
- Hopscotch
- Jump rope
- Kickball, basketball, soccer, tag
- Catch
- Bike ride, rollerblade
When it comes to gift-giving, finding something that’s both fun and beneficial can be a challenge. If you’re looking to give a gift that helps children develop strength, coordination, and confidence, gross motor toys and activities are the perfect choice. These gifts encourage big movements like running, jumping, and climbing, that support physical growth while providing hours of entertainment. Here are some great gross motor gift ideas for kids of all ages, from toddler-friendly options to items for more active, older children.
Gift Ideas:
- Mini bowling pins
- Yoga games
- Nintendo switch games
- Target practice
- Floor is lava
- Glow in the dark jump rope
- Catching toys
- Twister
- Hula hoop
- Scooterboard
- Tunnel
- Buildable balance beam or balance pods
- Horse Riding toys
- Basketball hoop
- Indoor Basketball
- Stomp rocket (glow in the dark)
- Hopscotch ring game
- Jump & Toss
