Summer Activities

This page has some suggestions for helpful gross motor activities. We listed them under summer because parents have typically asked us for ideas for summer play. Obviously they can also be practiced any time of year!

Balance Activities:

1. Stand on one leg.

Your child may need to start by holding onto a chair, counter or table with one or two hands, but may progress to holding with one hand and eventually no hands.

*Try and hold the leg up as long as possible.

*While standing on one leg, try bending and straightening the non-standing knee. You can try picking up an object from the floor while standing on one leg.

*Watch your shadow while you stand on one leg and see how long the two of you can keep the leg up.

*Raise up on your toes.

2. Walk on a line: walk forwards, backwards, sideways.

3. Walk on a balance beam /railroad tie at the playground or park. Try to walk across without falling off. Try walking heel-to-toe and sideways.

4. Try hopping on one foot. Your child may need to hold onto the wall or surface and then try hopping without holding the wall.

Coordination Activities:

1. Throw and catch balls of different sizes.
2. Hit balls with bats, badminton racquet or tennis racquet. You can use a ‘T’ stand to hold the ball. You can use soft balls for this or try to hit a balloon off a ‘T’ stand.
3. Riding a tricycle. Make an obstacle course in the driveway or at the park to help learn to steer.
4. Kick a ball. Start with a ball that is not moving and try to kick to a target. You can do this in the driveway or on the lawn as well as at the park. Once the child can kick the ball well, try having them kick a moving ball.
5. Jumping. Practice jumping forwards, backward and sideways. Use cracks in the sidewalk to jump over or make up a chalk walkway. Jump off raised surfaces such as the bottom step of a stair or block.
6. Practice walking up and down the stairs alternating feet first while holding a railing and then without a railing. Try a few steps first versus the entire flight of stairs.

Strengthening:

1. Climb and play on playground equipment.
2. Hang on a low bar. How long can you hold on. Swing.
3. Swimming: It is a great all around activity. Use kick boards to work on leg strength. Play games.
4. Take family walks or hikes.