How parents can support their preschooler’s gross motor skills

gross motor skills

Promoting gross motor skills

Gross motor skills encompass abilities such as running, jumping, climbing, and balancing, which play a crucial role in the physical activity and development during childhood. It's widely recognized how much joy movement brings to children. Activities like running, swimming, swinging, or riding a scooter enhance gross motor skills, coordination and endurance in children. Moreover, these activities boost self-confidence and reduce negative emotions like anger or sadness. They also contribute to reducing the risk of postural damage. Regular physical activity is essential for the development of a healthy body awareness, aiding children in better understanding and respecting their physical capabilities and limits. For instance, through climbing, children learn to assess their strength and realize how high they go without falling. Such activities foster an awareness of personal safety and encourage careful behavior. Leisure activities, such as playing ball games or visiting playgrounds, positively affect physical health, muscle development, and endurance, improve gross motor skills, and provide immense joy. Integrating regular physical activity into daily life is the best way to support the holistic development of children. The motor activities presented here are based on general knowledge of child development. Please note that every child is different and develops at their own pace. Always adapt the exercises to your child's individual abilities and needs. Ensure that all activities take place in a safe environment and that your child is appropriately supervised.

Ten minutes of movement time together

Ten minutes of shared movement time each day are valuable for deepening bonds between parents and children while simultaneously improving gross motor skills. Precious moments of togetherness, whether dancing in the living room, skipping in the garden, or playing ball in the park, are enjoyable and support children's physical development. The emotional bond that forms between parents and children in the early years of childhood lays the foundation for lifelong trust and understanding. Discover various suggestions for making exercise time together interesting and varied.

A smiling boy in a striped shirt against a blue background.

Support activities

Gross motor skills form a crucial foundation for the holistic development of children, encompassing movements of large muscle groups important for activities such as climbing, running, jumping, and balancing. Promoting these skills enhances both the physical health and well-being of children. The following activities provide playful opportunities to support children's gross motor development and explore the joy of moving together. It is crucial that the activities are carried out under appropriate supervision and are suited to your child's abilities.

A parent and a preschool child play catch with a ball in a children's room.

Catching a ball

Catching a ball is an entertaining game that develops children's eye-hand coordination, motor skills and spatial awareness. Catching a ball requires children to observe the ball closely, correctly estimate the distance and trajectory and quickly position both hands to catch it. Children between the ages of 5 and 6 are usually able to catch a ball from the air relatively safely. However, this developmental step requires many different movement stimuli. Varied movement experiences at a young age help children to develop their motor skills better. When catching and throwing the ball by hand, it is advisable to use a soft foam ball to avoid injuries especially for younger or less experienced children. Starting with shorter distances, gradually introduce children to more difficult throws and catches. Make ball catching a positive experience, which focuses on fun and spending time together. It encourages children to move and be physically active and helps to build muscles and increase self-confidence in their own abilities. Ball catching promotes motor development as well as important skills such as reactivity, anticipation, orientation, rhythm and balance. These skills are fundamental to healthy motor development and important for many other sports. Dedicate a few minutes in the afternoon to a brief ball game to bring movement and shared playtime into the everyday lives of children.

Climbing

During early childhood development and preschool years, children feel a natural urge to explore the world around them and acquire new skills. Climbing plays a crucial role in this process and offers many benefits for the holistic development of children. Climbing helps develop children's gross and fine motor skills as they overcome obstacles, climb on scaffolding and ascend trees. This activity builds self-confidence in their dexterity. Children learn to assess risks and recognize their own limits. The more opportunities children have to climb, the better they learn to assess their physical abilities. Because with every ascent comes a descent. Children learn from their own experience that they only get up where they get down again. Climbing promotes spatial thinking because it requires a deeper understanding of the space around us, not only in a horizontal direction, as when running or cycling, but also in a vertical direction. This means that children think not only forwards, backwards, or sideways but also upwards and downwards. Imagine children climbing on a climbing frame with different levels. They mentally plan a way to move from one level to the next by assessing the space around them and choosing the best handholds to advance. Spatial thinking enables children to orient themselves in the environment, solve problems and master complex tasks. For example, a visit to the playground offers children climbing opportunities or the chance to try out different play equipment. A tree house in the garden is also suitable for climbing up and down. Overall, climbing encourages spatial thinking by providing a challenge that goes beyond what is required in many everyday activities. It expands the awareness of space and the ability to navigate complex spatial environments.

‍Safety when climbing
‍Ensuring proper supervision at all times during climbing activities is crucial to prevent accidents. Children who are cautious or anxious tend to stick to lower heights by themselves. Therefore, it's necessary for caregivers to remain nearby, establish eye contact and closely observe their facial expressions. Offering verbal guidance helps children if they encounter difficulties.

Moving with the ball

Movement gets everything going: the body, concentration, coordination, emotional balance, and the joy of learning. When children don’t move enough, they quickly become restless, irritable, or have trouble sleeping. Children naturally love to move, especially when their parents join in the play. And they laugh the most when mom or dad is a bit out of practice during a ball game. The best choice for these games is a soft foam ball. If you don’t have a soft foam ball at home, you can also use a beach ball, a small cushion, or a stuffed animal. The main thing is that it’s soft and light. Have fun trying it out and laughing together.
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On tiptoes with the ball
‍Hold the ball high above your head with both hands. Now walk on tiptoes around a chair two times.
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Rolling the ball
‍Sit on the floor with your legs stretched out and slightly apart. Place the ball between your legs. Roll it slowly forward with both hands as far as you can, and then roll it back again.
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Lifting the ball
‍Lie on your back and bend your knees. Place the ball between your knees. Slowly lift your legs with the ball between your knees, and bring them back down to the floor.
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Backward with the ball
‍Hold the ball with both hands behind your back. Walk slowly backward around a chair two times.
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Scooting with the ball
‍Sit together with your legs crossed and place the ball in your lap. Put your hands behind your back. Now scoot across the floor using small movements, without letting the ball roll away. Don’t touch the ball while moving.
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Getting up with the ball
‍Lie on your back and hold the ball on your stomach with both hands. Try to slowly sit up, without letting the ball fall. It’s not so easy, but it’s a lot of fun.
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Pass me the ball!
‍Stand back to back and pass the ball to each other: around your waist, under your legs, or even with your eyes closed, without dropping it. After each pass, turn around in a circle once.

Boy with a helmet balancing on a tree trunk.

Explore your own limits

Children naturally enjoy moving outdoors and testing their physical capabilities. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for children to get sufficient and varied exercise in the natural environment. Possible reasons for this are fewer public open spaces and playgrounds, little time to play due to a busy childhood, frequent sitting in front of electronic devices, a lack of play partners to run around with or a lack of time on the part of parents. Especially in their first ten years of life, it is important that children regularly run, swing, climb, balance, swim, ride a scooter or ride a bike. Varied movement is a prerequisite for the holistic development of body, mind, and soul and has a positive effect on self-confidence. Trying out themselves in movement, such as climbing or balancing, is a basic need for children. It allows them to leave their safe balance and explore their own limits. If a low wall no longer offers enough challenge for balancing, then a balancing beam at the playground or a narrow tree trunk serving as a bridge over a ditch becomes the next challenge. If there are no public playgrounds nearby, you also build a balance beam at home. A long wooden board and several wooden blocks, attached beneath the board, serve this purpose well, making the balance beam stable and safe on a flat surface. Before children use the balance beam, it's essential for an adult to check it to ensure a safe playing experience. Testing their physical limits helps children develop their physical, cognitive, and mental abilities. Good balance forms the basis for age-appropriate development of movement coordination and an upright posture. Regular exercise in the fresh air helps children to master unsteady situations safely and confidently. Regular physical activity is particularly vital for children with balance difficulties, as it significantly contributes to the healthy development of their motor skills.

Bouncy ball

Children need a variety of movement options that challenge their balance and coordination. Good balance promotes dexterity in activities such as jumping, climbing, scooter riding or cycling and reduces the risk of injury. Wobbly challenges like the bouncy ball help children to control and stabilize their bodies. This inflatable rubber ball with handles provides a secure grip and makes bouncing easier both indoors and outdoors. Keeping their balance on the bouncy ball strengthens the muscles in their back, stomach and legs as children tense their bodies and carefully coordinate their movements. The bouncy ball also supports an upright posture, as sitting or bouncing is only possible in an upright position due to its round shape. To ensure a safe and beneficial play experience, it is crucial that children have sufficient motor skills. This means also that children are able to touch the ground with their feet when sitting on the bouncy ball. This provides sufficient control to start and finish bouncing safely and maintain balance to minimize falls. The smallest models with a diameter of 40 to 45 cm are particularly suitable for children aged 3 and over. This size allows younger children to reach the ground with their feet when sitting on the ball. This promotes safe bouncing and confidence in their own movements. Enjoying movement together with the bouncy ball improves children's balance in a playful way. In addition, regular and varied exercise supports physical development and contributes significantly to relaxation.

Fun with the jumping jack

The jumping jack is a fun exercise for children to coordinate their movements and improve their balance. Coordination and balance are important for many activities such as cycling and climbing. Jumping jacks teach children to tense their bodies, coordinate their movements and keep their balance. This activity improves posture and tensing the body strengthens the muscles. Moving arms and legs simultaneously in a rhythmic pattern is a challenge for many children. Children with a lack of body tension usually move clumsily and unsteadily because they have difficulty coordinating their movements. By demonstrating and explaining the jumping jack in their own words, caregivers foster children's movement coordination. The jumping jack is a good way to awaken the joy of movement and at the same time promote the physical development of children. Daily exercise forms the basis for healthy development and improves well-being. Here is a simple instruction for the jumping jack.
Starting position: Standing with legs together and arms hanging down at the sides in an upright position.
The jump: Leaping up, spreading legs to the sides while simultaneously raising arms and clapping hands above the head.
Return to the starting position: Leaping again, bringing legs back together and lowering arms to the sides.
Repeat: Performing the jumping jack multiple times in succession.

Stay in balance

Regular physical activity is crucial for children's healthy development and promotes key motor skills, including the sense of balance. Good balance facilitates daily motor challenges such as running, jumping, climbing stairs, cycling, and many other activities that require coordination. Playful activities support children's coordination and balance, as well as the joy of movement. The following activities provide fun ways to develop children’s motor and cognitive abilities while enjoying quality family time together.

One-leg stand
This exercise playfully promotes balance by having a child stand on one leg and spread their arms out to the side. Counting together brings excitement to the game and at the same time supports counting skills while the child tries to keep their balance for as long as possible.

Balance line
A line is drawn with chalk or affixed to the ground with painter's tape. The child tries to balance on this line both forwards and backwards, with balancing backwards presenting a greater challenge. Counting steps together enhances the child's counting skills. If the child steps next to the line, the game starts over. To increase the difficulty, the child tries to balance a cushion on their head.

Hopping game
A line is drawn with chalk or affixed to the ground with painter's tape. The child is then encouraged to hop along this line on one leg, paying special attention to stay on the line.

Egg race
A line is drawn with chalk or affixed to the ground with painter's tape. Children then attempt to run quickly along this line while balancing a plastic egg on a spoon. If the egg falls or a child steps off the line, the attempt is restarted. This exercise promotes eye-hand coordination, which is crucial for everyday activities such as drawing, crafting and writing.

Balance board

Preschool children need regular and varied exercise in their daily routine. Activities such as running, swinging, balancing and climbing strengthen muscles and promote balance and coordination. Balancing on a balance board requires concentration and the constant adjustment of one's own movements in order to stay balanced. Such challenges are suitable for children as young as 3 years old. They have a positive effect on cognitive development by promoting attention and spatial orientation. When choosing a balance board, it is important to assess the child's motor skills in order to avoid excessive demands. It is also important to choose a balance board that is suitable for the child's size and age. For a secure footing, balancing barefoot on the board is recommended. A mat under the board softens falls and prevents scratches on the wooden floor. Safety is paramount when balancing, requiring constant supervision of children. The many possible uses of a balance board, such as a car racing track, deck chair, bridge or slide, enrich children's playful activities and encourage creativity.

Standing on one leg

An important step in the motor and cognitive development of children is the ability to stand safely on one leg for a few seconds before they start school. The one-leg stand promotes balance and body awareness, additionally facilitating everyday movements such as riding a bike or climbing. The one-leg stand requires good muscle tone and body tension and helps children to develop a stable posture. Standing on one leg is a complex motor skill that supports various areas of your child's physical and mental development. Children with difficulties in balance perception often show insecurity when standing on one leg. They also easily lose their balance when balancing or walking backwards. Through varied daily activities and the loving support of parents, the overall motor skills of children steadily develop and improve. Use a few minutes in the afternoon for this exercise or a short ball game to bring movement and playing together into your child's everyday life. These small, regular exercises improve balance and coordination and promote bonding between you and your child. The following exercises help your child to improve their physical mobility.

One-legged stand with a ball
An easy introduction to the one-leg stand is to place the foot on a ball and roll it back and forth or let it circle.

Flamingo dance
During the flamingo dance, the parent and child face each other and hold hands. Both lift one leg and stretch it back. Together, they swing their lifted feet back and forth, trying to maintain balance for as long as possible, while fun music plays in the background.

Tightrope walker
Encourage your child to stand on one leg like a tightrope walker with outstretched arms for as long as possible. Count together from 1 to 10 and back again.

One-legged stand with eyes closed
The one-leg stand with eyes closed presents an additional challenge because it requires good balance perception. It is suitable for children who already have good balance.

Scooter riding
Your child also learns to balance on one leg when riding a scooter, which is very much in line with children's urge to move.

A child walks barefoot on hemisphere balance balls.

The path to balance

Children between the ages of 0 and 10 are in a crucial phase of their mental and physical development, in which their cognitive and motor skills are developing. Varied movements such as climbing, jumping, balancing or cycling promote the development of new brain connections because the brain and body are closely linked. A good balance forms the basis for age-appropriate development of agility and cognitive skills such as logical thinking and concentration. Children love to walk barefoot on hemisphere balance balls. Balancing on a course is a physical and mental challenge. It requires children to concentrate on their own movements while simultaneously stabilizing their body to avoid losing balance. For children who struggle with balance, it is safer to start with exercises on the floor. Mark a long line on the floor using chalk or painter's tape, or lay down a long rope for the child to balance on, moving forwards and backwards. After a while, increase the level of difficulty by replacing the straight line with curves or zigzag lines. Good balance enables the child to move safely and confidently in everyday life. Regular exercise plays a key role in your child's development and enhances their well-being.

A child jumps in the numbered squares of hopscotch.

Hopping on one leg

In today's world, where digital devices play an increasingly important role, promoting physical activity in children is more important than ever. Although hopping on one leg may seem simple at first glance, some children struggle to maintain balance and coordinate their movements. If your child is still finding it difficult to hop on one leg, then practice regularly for a few minutes with your child, joining in the hopping. In addition to hopping, there are many other playful activities that delight children and simultaneously improve their motor skills. These include, for example, balancing on a chalk line, playing catch, or jumping rope. Through these activities, children learn to feel and understand their bodies better. This means that children develop an awareness of how their body works and are able to better assess their own limits. This plays an essential role in children's physical and mental development. Remember that motivation and praise have a positive effect on your child's self-confidence and also promote their enjoyment of exercise. Here are some hopping ideas on one leg.

Snake line
Draw a snake line with chalk on the ground and hop along this line on one leg with your child, counting the number of jumps aloud.

Large figure eight
Draw a large figure eight with chalk on the ground and hop along this eight with your child.

Hopscotch
Draw ten fields on the ground with chalk as shown in the picture below, writing a number from 1 to 10 in each field. First, show your child how the game works by demonstrating the jumps yourself. This helps children understand the movement patterns better. The child starts at field 1, hopping into the field either on one leg or on both legs. Then they make a straddle jump into fields 2 and 3, followed by a jump into field 4, again on one leg or on both. Your child repeats these jumps until they reach field 10, where they perform a 180-degree turn jump. On the way back to field 1, your child alternates the type of jump: a straddle jump in two fields, followed by a jump on one leg or both legs in the next field. More advanced children try to hop the entire distance on one leg, counting the numbers from 1 to 10 forwards and then from 10 to 1 backwards. Develop your own variations of the game with your child to increase the fun factor. When children try different types of movement, they develop a better understanding of their own body and its capabilities. These diverse experiences contribute to better development of their gross motor skills, like balance, coordination, and strength. Regular physical activity has a positive effect on children's well-being and encourages lifelong habits of physical activity.

Disorders of gross motor skills

As children age, their dexterity and balance tend to improve. However, compared to other five-year-old children, some children show noticeable weaknesses in gross motor development. They struggle with activities like climbing, running, balancing, ascending stairs, and other challenging movements, appearing clumsy. As a result, children feel insecure, have less self-confidence and their enjoyment of exercise and sporting activities decreases. Monitor your child's gross motor skill development closely and consult a pediatrician if you have any concerns. Targeted support through occupational therapy or physiotherapy will improve your child's mobility and balance. With a little time and practice, your child will find everyday activities such as swimming, playing soccer or riding a bike much easier. A daily routine that includes regular physical activity enhances your child's physical abilities. Aim to reduce the time your child spends in front of the TV or engaged in computer games to free up more time for physical activity. Instead, encourage outdoor activities such as playing ball, rope games, and tag, which are enjoyable and enhance general motor skills. Playgrounds also offer children excellent opportunities to improve their strength, coordination and agility. Patience and praise are the key to boosting a child's self-confidence and reducing frustration or aggression. Support your child in positively addressing their motor weaknesses and encourage them to remain consistently active.

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