Toys that Help Develop Large Motor Skills
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Our preschoolers have opportunities to develop their large motor skills each day, and we are fortunate to have some wonderful toys that help…
This post contains affiliate links to large motor toys that are either exactly what we have, or very similar, available from Amazon.
Here are 10 of our favorite toys that help develop large motor skills:
Our toddlers and preschoolers love to rock in these chairs and then turn them over and balance on top. There are endless ways you can use these chairs! The benefits include stimulating creativity, improving hand-eye coordination, strengthening the core, improving balance, and helping with sensory issues.
These small square boards can be used in many ways. We added short ropes to ours so that the preschoolers can pull each other. Here is an article that shares the benefits of using scooter boards for fine motor development.
Our balance beam can be used in 3 ways: without the stand, so it sits directly on the floor (toddlers), on the stand, with a wide base (younger preschoolers), and on the stand, with a narrow base (older preschoolers). We use the exact brand and model that is pictured above and it's held up strong for over a decade!
We have 2 different types of tunnels (one is like the tunnel that is pictured above), but both allow our preschoolers to crawl on hands and knees from one end to the other, strengthening their upper and lower extremities. Our toddlers love to "hide" in them and play peek-a-boo, too.
We love to use our parachute for group large motor play. We sing songs while lifting and lowering the parachute, moving in circles, and crawling underneath. Our preschoolers also love to pull each other on the parachute! You can read more about the benefits of parachute play in preschool here.
We have a variety of balls from small to large and they are all loved by our preschoolers! Playground balls, such as those pictured above, are very durable. We've had them for years and have only needed to replace a couple of them.
It takes awhile to master balancing the hoop and swinging it around the waist, but this is a favorite even if that skill hasn't been mastered yet. We use them to roll across the room (and then chase them!) and on the floor to hop in and out of. They've been part of obstacle courses and have been turned into cars and horses and trains.
Tossing balls into basketball hoops is an important large motor toy because preschoolers need to use both legs, both arms, and cross over the midline of the body. Make sure the hoop can be adjusted to your child's height.
Bouncy Ball
Bouncy balls (also known as Hoppity Hops and Hippity Hop Balls) are a good way to develop balance and body coordination. They work well indoors and out!
The wood rocking boat (we own the brand and model shown above) is loved by all our preschoolers! It seats 2-4 children. When you turn it over, it becomes a set of stairs.
Here are some good articles about the importance of large motor play:
Why is it Important to Develop Gross Motor Skills in Preschool Children? (Everyday Life)
Big Body Play (NAEYC)
What Are Gross Motor Skills? (OT Mom)
Here are some fine motor activities for preschoolers:
80 Activities Your Kids Will Love (Parent Teach Play)
40 Gross Motor Activities to Get Your Kids Moving (Hands On As We Grow)
Happy playing!
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