Resources, Therapy Tips
10 Outdoor Activities that Enhance Gross Motor Skills
When the weather is warm and the sun is out, the best thing for your child to do is play outside. Whether it’s a baseball game, riding a bike or just exploring around the yard, there is value in everything a child experiences while outside, including gross motor development. Below are 10 everyday outdoor activities that help to promote gross motor skills.1. Exploring
With natural sensory experiences everywhere, your child can learn so much when given the freedom to explore the world around him. Lying in the grass, picking dandelions or walking on wood chips or cement help him learn how to process different textures and sensations and discover what feels good to him.2. Climbing hills and walking on uneven surfaces
Walking up and down hills and over uneven surfaces can help build strength and endurance. Walk with your child at a hilly park, along the beach or on a trail in the woods. Exposing him to various landscapes with a little elevation will help build optimal strength.3. Coloring with sidewalk chalk
When your child draws on the sidewalk he has to squat down, which strengthens his legs and trunk, and properly hold the chalk, which helps with fine motor and grasping skills. Sidewalk chalk can also be used to create sidewalk games, like “hopscotch” or mazes to play “follow the leader.” These games promote movement, which builds endurance4. “Open-ended” toys
Open ended toys, like ribbon dancing sticks, jump ropes and hula hoops, can be used in many ways and encourage your child to use his imagination. These types of toys require your child to stay in continuous motion and encourage larger movements with the arms and trunk.5. Riding a bike or a scooter
Riding a bike or a scooter will help your child work on coordination, endurance and overall strengthening. The more endurance activities your child engages in, the more energy he will have for other activities.6. Water Play
Children love water play activities during hot weather, and many of them enhance gross motor skills. Have your child fill water buckets and carry them around, either to fill up a baby pool or help you water plants, to help with strengthening. A water table is another fun way to incorporate many activities at once. In a water table, your child can float objects, pour water into cups and play with small squirt toys, all activities that strengthen his hands.7. Organized sports and ball games
Playing a friendly game of soccer, Velcro catch with a ball and paddle or with playground or beach balls will help your child develop hand-eye and hand-feet coordination, motor planning and social skills. When playing an organized game with friends, children learn the concept of taking turns and good sportsmanship.8. Outdoor painting projects
What better place to make a mess than outdoors? Lay large “full body” sheets of craft paper or painting tarps down on the ground and fill paint pans or pie tins with different colors of washable finger paint. Encourage your child to paint as “big” as possible, using his hands, legs, feet and body to paint as much of the canvas as he can. This activity encourages him to use his major muscle groups, reach and move his body in many different ways.9. Yard work
Let your child help you with your maintenance projects around the yard. He can help with gardening by lifting dirt or pulling weeds. He can help with yard clean up by collecting sticks or raking leaves. Anytime he has to bend down and pick something up he is strengthening his legs and working on his balance.10. Visiting a playground
Taking your child to the playground is a great way to engage multiple gross motor skills. Climbing or hanging on playground equipment helps to strengthen many muscles at once. Swinging on a swing set provides sensory stimulation and challenges the vestibular system in regard to balance. Most playground equipment is set up on various leaves, requiring your child to engage his sense of depth perception and spatial awareness.
