Gross motor skills are developed from birth to adolescence and are key to giving children more independence.
In this blog we will explore what gross motor skills are, why they are so important, and what activities you can do with your children to help these skills develop. We will also discuss how outdoor play can be particularly helpful in developing gross motor skills.
What are Gross Motor Skills?
Gross motor skills are movements that require the coordination of your whole body, from your skeletal muscles to bones and nerves. They help with the awareness of your body, reaction speed, balance, and strength, and also form the basis for the development of fine motor skills.
Examples
Many everyday activities require the use of gross motor skills, such as:
- Standing
- Walking
- Running
- Bending over
- Sitting upright without support
- Swimming
- Jumping
- Waving
Why is Developing Gross Motor Skills Important?
Developing gross motor skills helps support the physical development, independence, health, and wellbeing of children.
Gross motor skills help improve a child’s muscular strength, ability to take safe risks, and coordination. Growing a child’s confidence with gross motor skills sets the foundation for the development of fine motor skills which allow children to carry out more precise movements that give them independence, such as opening containers or buttoning up clothes.
As many everyday activities require the use of gross motor skills, encouraging children to master these skills also provides further opportunity to explore more of the environment and uncover more learning opportunities in the world. These learning opportunities can present children with more chances to be social with their peers, which can ultimately have a positive impact on their wellbeing.
Activities to Develop Gross Motor Skills
We have outlined some fun and engaging activities for children that will help them develop gross motor skills.
Obstacle courses
Obstacle courses are a great way to challenge children to practice a range of gross motor skills. By walking, crawling, climbing, and balancing their way around the course, children will learn how to effectively navigate space and improve their strength and coordination.
Physical development equipment can be used to transform outdoor play spaces into exciting obstacle courses. Movable equipment like balancing logs, scuttle blocks, and freestanding rock climbers can help you create versatile, changeable obstacle courses whereas outdoor play towers can give you a more permanent solution.
Roleplaying games
Getting your children involved in roleplaying activities can help them practice their gross motor skills, whilst also encouraging social and imaginative play. For example, you could roleplay moving house and get your children to pack up items into boxes that they pick up and move into their new home. This kind of roleplaying can improve muscular strength, core strength, and whole body coordination.
Ball games
Kicking, throwing, and catching balls are a great way for children to improve their gross motor skills and practice coordination and balance. It is also a versatile activity that can be done indoors or outdoors, with or without ball game equipment and playground ball walls.
Other similar activities include blowing, chasing, and popping bubbles and trying to keep balloons up in the air for as long as possible.
Jumping games
Children enjoy hopping, skipping, and jumping around so encouraging them to take part in jumping games can be an engaging way for them to practice gross motor skills and improve balance and coordination.
Hopscotch is a playground classic, and you can utilise playground markings to add a permanent hopscotch outline to your outdoor space. Alternatively, you can DIY a hopscotch board by using chalk on pavement.
Climbing activities
Climbing activities improve a child’s upper body strength and coordination. They can also help with future planning and critical thinking skills as children have to carefully plan the route they are going to climb.
There is a diverse range of climbing walls and traversing walls that can be implemented into outdoor play spaces to challenge and engage children in physical play.
Swing sets
Adding a swing set to your playground will encourage children to use gross motor skills and improve their strength and coordination. You could opt for individual flat seat swing sets, or basket swing sets to encourage more social play.
How Does Outdoor Play Impact Gross Motor Skills Development?
Outdoor play provides many opportunities for outdoor learning and encourages the social and physical development of children. With plenty of space for running, jumping, climbing, and crawling, outdoor playgrounds are the perfect environment for children to practice their gross motor skills.
With extensive options for outdoor playground equipment and exercise equipment, you can craft safe, engaging, and durable playgrounds appropriate for children of all ages to explore, socialise, play, and develop.
Find out more about creating an outdoor playground using the EYFS framework.
How Can Sovereign Play Help?
Looking to create a playground that facilitates physical development and encourages outdoor learning?
Sovereign Play has decades of experience in creating bespoke playgrounds for all ages across a range of markets. Our extensive experience means we understand the importance of creating safe, engaging spaces for children to explore and enjoy.
We offer a range of services, including:
Download a brochure to explore our vast range of products or contact us online or by calling 01702 804200 to discuss how we can make your dream playground a reality.
