Physical Therapy

Activities for Gross Motor Development

Gross motor means any activity that uses the large muscles of the body - like running, jumping, hopping on one foot, stairs and ball skills.

Some gross motor skills that a 3-year old should be able to perform are:

Jumping forward 24 inches with 2-foot take off and landing; down 18 inches with 2-foot take off and landing
Walking on tip toes
Walking up and down steps alternating feet with or without rail.
Balancing on one foot for 3-5 seconds.
Catching a ball.

Some gross motor skills that a 4-year old should be able to perform are:

Some activities that you can play at home to promote gross motor development are:

Going to playground - climbing, slides, running
Walking on raised beams, sidewalk edges, painted lines.
Have child stop, start, turn around and walk backward.
Jumping over ropes, hula hoops.
Cut shapes out of paper and jump from shape to shape on floor.
Practice hopping on one foot - hold their hand to help at first.
Jumping on bubble packing material to hear the pops.
Play red light/green light - but change it up - have them run, walk backwards, jump, bear walk (walking on hands and feet with bottom up), crab walk
Relay races - running, walking backwards, jumping, hopping on one foot, bear walk, crab walk
Play Simon says
Kangaroo ball - pick up a ball with knees and jump like a kangaroo
Bean bag toss game - Make colored shapes out paper and have child throw bean bags to the colored shapes
Play musical chairs Dancing to music
Play catch and take a step backward when you catch the ball.