Gross motor activities

Gross motor is the big-movement stuff: climbing, balancing, carrying, crawling, marching. Toddlers need a lot of it, and on a wet Tuesday the park is not always an option. These activities turn a hallway, a sofa and a roll of masking tape into everything a small body needs. A cushion path to wobble along, a blanket tunnel to crawl through, a line on the floor to walk like a tightrope. They build balance, core strength and the confidence to try the next bigger thing. Most take ten minutes and leave a pleasantly tired toddler behind.

159 activities

Ball Down the Ramp illustration Ball Down the Ramp from 12 months · 5-10 min Bat Wing Flap illustration Bat Wing Flap from 12 months · 5-10 min Big Box Push Along illustration Big Box Push Along from 12 months · 10-15 min Blanket Tunnel Crawl illustration Blanket Tunnel Crawl from 12 months · 20-35 min Box Fort Crawl-Through illustration Box Fort Crawl-Through from 12 months · 25-40 min Box Tunnel Crawl illustration Box Tunnel Crawl from 12 months · 30-45 min Chair Crawl Under illustration Chair Crawl Under from 12 months · 5 min Cushion Mountain Climb illustration Cushion Mountain Climb from 12 months · 20-40 min Cushion Tower Build illustration Cushion Tower Build from 12 months · 5-10 min Hallway Crawl Race illustration Hallway Crawl Race from 12 months · 5-10 min Lamp Post to Lamp Post illustration Lamp Post to Lamp Post from 12 months · 10-15 min Lap to Lap illustration Lap to Lap from 12 months · 5-10 min Laundry Basket Stand illustration Laundry Basket Stand from 12 months · 5-10 min Leaf Pile Stomp illustration Leaf Pile Stomp from 12 months · 10-15 min Low Table Treasures illustration Low Table Treasures from 12 months · 20-30 min Rice Bottle Roll illustration Rice Bottle Roll from 12 months · 5-10 min Sofa Toy Rescue illustration Sofa Toy Rescue from 12 months · 5-10 min Towel Sled Pull illustration Towel Sled Pull from 12 months · 5-10 min Tub Tower Topple illustration Tub Tower Topple from 12 months · 30-45 min Leaf Basket Walk illustration Leaf Basket Walk from 13 months · 10-15 min Monster Walk illustration Monster Walk from 13 months · 20-35 min Big Ball Roll illustration Big Ball Roll from 14 months · 5-10 min Big Box Push illustration Big Box Push from 14 months · 20-35 min Bubble Wrap Path illustration Bubble Wrap Path from 14 months · 10-15 min Hello, Mr Bus! illustration Hello, Mr Bus! from 14 months · 10-15 min Hello, Park! Bye, Park! illustration Hello, Park! Bye, Park! from 14 months · 5 min Laundry Basket Haul illustration Laundry Basket Haul from 14 months · 20-35 min Pillow Path Walk illustration Pillow Path Walk from 14 months · 5-10 min Pumpkin Hunt illustration Pumpkin Hunt from 14 months · 10-15 min Roll the Pumpkin illustration Roll the Pumpkin from 14 months · 5-10 min Soft Ball Roll Bowling illustration Soft Ball Roll Bowling from 14 months · 20-35 min Treasure Basket Walk illustration Treasure Basket Walk from 14 months · 25-45 min Scarf Sway Dance illustration Scarf Sway Dance from 15 months · 20-35 min Sticky Spider Web illustration Sticky Spider Web from 15 months · 10-20 min Animal Walk Parade illustration Animal Walk Parade from 16 months · 20-35 min Bean Bag Toss Basket illustration Bean Bag Toss Basket from 16 months · 20-35 min Big Steps, Little Steps illustration Big Steps, Little Steps from 16 months · 5 min Feet First Down illustration Feet First Down from 16 months · 5 min Hula Hoop Step Through illustration Hula Hoop Step Through from 16 months · 5-10 min Puddle Splash Count illustration Puddle Splash Count from 16 months · 5-10 min Singing Scarf Wave illustration Singing Scarf Wave from 16 months · 5-10 min Stair Step Climb illustration Stair Step Climb from 16 months · 5-10 min Sticky Tree Walk illustration Sticky Tree Walk from 16 months · 15-20 min The Bottom Step illustration The Bottom Step from 16 months · 5 min The Front Doorstep illustration The Front Doorstep from 16 months · 5 min Tiptoe And Stomp illustration Tiptoe And Stomp from 16 months · 5 min Up to Bed, One Hand illustration Up to Bed, One Hand from 16 months · 5 min Wall Push Plank illustration Wall Push Plank from 16 months · 5-10 min Wellies Off illustration Wellies Off from 16 months · 5 min Zigzag Tape Path illustration Zigzag Tape Path from 16 months · 5-10 min Backpack Marching illustration Backpack Marching from 18 months · 5-10 min Box Car Ride illustration Box Car Ride from 18 months · 30-45 min Broom Sweep March illustration Broom Sweep March from 18 months · 5-10 min Car Wash Scoot illustration Car Wash Scoot from 18 months · 5-10 min Hand in Hand Kick illustration Hand in Hand Kick from 18 months · 5-10 min Leaf Toss Basket illustration Leaf Toss Basket from 18 months · 5-10 min Music Freeze Dance illustration Music Freeze Dance from 18 months · 20-35 min Park Steps illustration Park Steps from 18 months · 5-10 min Parking Spaces illustration Parking Spaces from 18 months · 5-10 min Ride-On Delivery illustration Ride-On Delivery from 18 months · 5-10 min Shoe Stomp March illustration Shoe Stomp March from 18 months · 5-10 min Tap the Top illustration Tap the Top from 18 months · 5 min Walk Into It illustration Walk Into It from 18 months · 5 min Box Goal illustration Box Goal from 20 months · 5-10 min Broomstick Ride illustration Broomstick Ride from 20 months · 5-10 min Down the Hall illustration Down the Hall from 20 months · 5-10 min Hold the Banister illustration Hold the Banister from 20 months · 5 min Fetch the Ball illustration Fetch the Ball from 22 months · 10-15 min Jump The Line illustration Jump The Line from 22 months · 5-10 min Row Your Boat illustration Row Your Boat from 22 months · 5 min Bear Hunt Round the House illustration Bear Hunt Round the House from 24 months · 30-40 min Cardboard Drum Beat illustration Cardboard Drum Beat from 24 months · 30-45 min Colour Hunt Basket illustration Colour Hunt Basket from 24 months · 30-45 min Cup Skittles illustration Cup Skittles from 24 months · 5-10 min Follow My Moves illustration Follow My Moves from 24 months · 20-35 min Ghost Bowling illustration Ghost Bowling from 24 months · 10-15 min Halloween Window Walk illustration Halloween Window Walk from 24 months · 20-40 min Hallway Tape Roads illustration Hallway Tape Roads from 24 months · 20-30 min Hand, Then Rail illustration Hand, Then Rail from 24 months · 5 min Loud And Quiet Dance illustration Loud And Quiet Dance from 24 months · 30-45 min Monster Feet Stomp illustration Monster Feet Stomp from 24 months · 10-15 min One Foot Down illustration One Foot Down from 24 months · 5 min Puddle Boat Race illustration Puddle Boat Race from 24 months · 20-40 min Puddle Splash Hunt illustration Puddle Splash Hunt from 24 months · 20-40 min Spider Web Walk illustration Spider Web Walk from 24 months · 10-20 min Sticker Steps illustration Sticker Steps from 24 months · 5 min Stop And Go Freeze illustration Stop And Go Freeze from 24 months · 20-35 min Stop It With Your Foot illustration Stop It With Your Foot from 24 months · 5-10 min Tree and Back illustration Tree and Back from 24 months · 20-30 min Under Over Crawl illustration Under Over Crawl from 24 months · 20-35 min Up to the Slide illustration Up to the Slide from 24 months · 5-10 min Wall Kicks illustration Wall Kicks from 24 months · 5-10 min Wind The Bobbin Up illustration Wind The Bobbin Up from 24 months · 5 min Kick To The Box illustration Kick To The Box from 26 months · 20-35 min Park Goalposts illustration Park Goalposts from 26 months · 10-15 min Puddle Jump Path illustration Puddle Jump Path from 26 months · 20-35 min Tape Shape Jump illustration Tape Shape Jump from 26 months · 30-45 min Tightrope Tape Walk illustration Tightrope Tape Walk from 26 months · 5-10 min Big Ball Catch illustration Big Ball Catch from 28 months · 5-10 min Drop and Kick illustration Drop and Kick from 28 months · 5 min Roll Down The Hill illustration Roll Down The Hill from 28 months · 10-15 min Swing Countdown illustration Swing Countdown from 28 months · 5-10 min Balance Bike Glide illustration Balance Bike Glide from 30 months · 10-15 min Beach Ball Catch illustration Beach Ball Catch from 30 months · 5-10 min Bounce And Catch illustration Bounce And Catch from 30 months · 5-10 min Chalk Stepping Stones illustration Chalk Stepping Stones from 30 months · 10-15 min Climbing Frame Explorer illustration Climbing Frame Explorer from 30 months · 10-15 min Fast and Slow March illustration Fast and Slow March from 30 months · 5-10 min Log Scramble illustration Log Scramble from 30 months · 10-15 min Pedal Path illustration Pedal Path from 30 months · 10-15 min Rail Up, Rail Down illustration Rail Up, Rail Down from 30 months · 5 min Slow-Motion Snails illustration Slow-Motion Snails from 30 months · 5-10 min Trike To Teddy illustration Trike To Teddy from 30 months · 10-15 min Which Rolls Furthest? illustration Which Rolls Furthest? from 30 months · 10-15 min Musical Statues illustration Musical Statues from 34 months · 10-15 min Beanbag Target Games illustration Beanbag Target Games from 36 months · 30-40 min Big Goal, Little Goal illustration Big Goal, Little Goal from 36 months · 10-15 min Billy Goats Gruff Bridge illustration Billy Goats Gruff Bridge from 36 months · 30-40 min Bottle Skittles illustration Bottle Skittles from 36 months · 10-15 min Catch and Count illustration Catch and Count from 36 months · 10-15 min Cross the River illustration Cross the River from 36 months · 10-15 min Den for Two illustration Den for Two from 36 months · 30-45 min Enormous Turnip Pull illustration Enormous Turnip Pull from 36 months · 10-15 min Follow My Leader Walk illustration Follow My Leader Walk from 36 months · 10-15 min Long Jump Sticks illustration Long Jump Sticks from 36 months · 10-15 min Marching Band Parade illustration Marching Band Parade from 36 months · 30-40 min Monster Says illustration Monster Says from 36 months · 10-15 min Mr Wolf Chase illustration Mr Wolf Chase from 36 months · 10-15 min Musical Cushions illustration Musical Cushions from 36 months · 10-15 min Name Ball Catch illustration Name Ball Catch from 36 months · 5-10 min Nursery Rhyme Theatre illustration Nursery Rhyme Theatre from 36 months · 30-40 min Park Balance Trail illustration Park Balance Trail from 36 months · 10-15 min Pumpkin Window Walk illustration Pumpkin Window Walk from 36 months · 10-15 min Rainbow Treasure Hunt illustration Rainbow Treasure Hunt from 36 months · 30-40 min Ramp Roll Race illustration Ramp Roll Race from 36 months · 10-15 min Rocket Countdown Jumps illustration Rocket Countdown Jumps from 36 months · 5-10 min Scarf Streamer Dance illustration Scarf Streamer Dance from 36 months · 10-15 min Scooter Delivery Round illustration Scooter Delivery Round from 36 months · 15-20 min Scooter Slalom illustration Scooter Slalom from 36 months · 15-20 min Shadow Tag illustration Shadow Tag from 36 months · 10-15 min Skeleton Shake illustration Skeleton Shake from 36 months · 5-10 min Slow Motion Animals illustration Slow Motion Animals from 36 months · 5-10 min Sock Ghost Throw illustration Sock Ghost Throw from 36 months · 10-15 min Sponge Bucket Relay illustration Sponge Bucket Relay from 36 months · 30-40 min Traffic Light Scooter illustration Traffic Light Scooter from 36 months · 10-15 min Your Own Obstacle Course illustration Your Own Obstacle Course from 36 months · 30-40 min Family Sports Day illustration Family Sports Day from 38 months · 30-40 min Box Dice Jumps illustration Box Dice Jumps from 40 months · 10-15 min Broomstick Gallop illustration Broomstick Gallop from 40 months · 5-10 min Chalk Hopscotch illustration Chalk Hopscotch from 40 months · 30-40 min Clap Clap Stamp illustration Clap Clap Stamp from 40 months · 5-10 min First Letter Hunt illustration First Letter Hunt from 40 months · 15-20 min Hide-and-Seek Teams illustration Hide-and-Seek Teams from 40 months · 10-15 min Hop Along the Line illustration Hop Along the Line from 40 months · 5-10 min Jump the Beats illustration Jump the Beats from 40 months · 5-10 min Our Own Chase Game illustration Our Own Chase Game from 40 months · 10-15 min Rhyme and Jump illustration Rhyme and Jump from 40 months · 5-10 min Road Sign Shapes illustration Road Sign Shapes from 40 months · 15-20 min Speckled Frog Hops illustration Speckled Frog Hops from 40 months · 10-15 min

Other types of play

Sensory activities for toddlers · Fine motor activities for toddlers · Everyday helper activities for toddlers · Quiet & calm activities for toddlers · All activities