Five Great Gross Motor Activities for Summer

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  1. SWIM

    • Get out in the water - pools, lakes, ponds, and oceans

    • Develops bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body together), enhances motor control and builds overall muscle strength

  2. RIDE BIKES

    • Pedal-less bikes (like Stidor, Glider bikes), training wheels, tricycles, two and three wheeled bikes - ALL are beneficial

    • Also encourages bilateral coordination, visual motor skills, balance training, and executive function for safety awareness

    • ALWAYS WEAR THAT HELMET!

  3. GO TO THE PARK/PLAYGROUND

    • Find that local playground and go have fun

    • Monkey bars, climbing jungle gyms, stairs, rock walls - encourages motor planning and strengthening

    • Slides, merry-go-rounds, moving bridges/unstable surfaces - exposes young bodies/minds to great vestibular and proprioceptive experiences

  4. THROWING GAMES

    • Toss pinecones into the garbage can; knock over objects with a ball rolled, thrown, or kicked

    • Tie a hula hoop to a tree limb or clothes line - throw a ball through the hoop (a still hoop or even a slowly moving hoop!)

    • Develops upper body motor skills, visual tracking, and coordination

  5. OBSTACLE COURSES/RELAY RACES

    • Utilize any space available - back yard, park, pool, even in a basement

    • Have kids take turns being the leader - jump, crawl, run, be creative

      • EXAMPLE:

        • Sprint to the back fence, crab walk to the purple flowers, do a somersault down the hill, walk backwards to the tree, bear crawl back to the start line

    • Great gross motor skills practice that improves language development and social interactions

Most importantly - MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!!!!

Contributed by Rebecca Newton, PT, DPT, and mother of 3