Good child care programs know that outdoor activities are vital for young children. Even in winter, teachers plan for children to be outside for some time everyday. When weather shortens your time outdoors, additional gross motor activities should be planned indoors. First, you may have to organize the available space so that these activities can be safely done indoors. Some centers can arrange to use hallways or gym spaces.
A few ideas are:
- Act out movements to songs, rhymes, and stories — walk like a duck, act like a monkey, or jump like a frog
- Some good action songs are "The Wheels on the Bus" or "Hokey-Pokey"
- Play with hula hoops and beach balls
- Build with large blocks made from plastic containers and cardboard boxes
- Bean bag toss
- Play catch or bowl with soft foam balls
- Walk on a balance beam that is only a few inches off the floor
- In very large spaces, children can ride vehicles and pull wagons
- Use push toys like toy mowers, brooms, or vacuums
- Create an obstacle course where children can jump over and crawl through obstacles
- For older children, cartwheels and forward rolls in areas with mats and lots of space.
Adapted from Essentials for Child Development Associates Working with Young Children, 2nd Edition, and Effective Practices in Early Childhood Education by Sue Bredekamp.
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