While we are all doing our best to stay healthy and safe, here are some fun activities you can do at home to encourage movement and gross motor skills

Board Games: pick your favorite board game and designate certain numbers or colors to represent different exercises. IE: roll a 3 do 10 jumping jacks, land on a red tile do 10 ski jumps

Puzzles or coloring: pick their favorite puzzle or coloring supplies and have them practice putting the puzzle together in different positions. IE: laying flat on their stomach, on hands and knees, 1⁄2 kneel, tall kneel, sitting criss-cross apple sauce

Hop Scotch: Set up a hope scotch course inside or outside. Work on jumping and landing on two feet and one foot.

Balance Walks: Place different colored tape on the floor in different patterns or set up a path of pillows and cushions and have kids practice walking toe to toe and side-ways on the line without stepping off

Bean Bag Balance Game: Place containers out in front of your child and place bean bag on one foot. Have your child practice lifting bean bag up with their foot slowly and placing it into one of the containers. Working on standing and balancing on one foot.

Plastic Cup Stacking: Practice stacking plastic cups using only your feet while standing on one leg

Beach Ball Basketball: Use a hamper as a basket and set a timer and see how many baskets they can make in a given amount of time. Have them work on squatting down properly to pick up the beach ball and bringing the beach ball over head to shoot in the basket.

Catch with a Beach Ball: Write different activities on each color of the beach ball and perform the activity facing you when you catch the ball. Examples wall sits, squats, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, ski jumps, tell a joke, do a dance, make an animal noise, spin around, jump on 1 foot or 2 feet.

Simon Says: with activities such as wheel barrow walks, bear walks, crab walks, jumping jacks, standing on one foot, jumping on one or two feet, sit ups, toe touches

Cup Soccer: set up a series of plastic cups around the room and kick the soccer ball/foam ball at each cup.