Let the Winter Games Begin: Gross Motor Games for the Holidays!
It’s that time of the year again, when your children may have a little extra energy stored inside with less time to play outside due to cold weather. Check out this collection of fun holiday gross motor games to help children channel their extra energy this season!
Wax Paper Ice Skating Rink:
Grab two pieces of wax paper for each foot. Put a foot on each one and glide around the room like they are ice skating! For an added challenge to work on visual-motor skills, create a scavenger hunt to find bows or toys hidden around the room! Note: if you have wood floors and have a hard time navigating with wax paper, paper plates are a great alternative!
Gingerbread Yoga:
Practice their flexibility, motor planning, and coordination skills by mirroring the different gingerbread yoga poses! Free printable download for fun gingerbread yoga poses available at Freebie Library - Pink Oatmeal.
Christmas Tree Balance Activity:
From The Inspired Treehouse – using painters tape, create a large tree on the floor. Next, grab cut-out paper ornaments or bows and place at the base of the tree for you kid to decorate! Take turns squatting to pick up ornaments to decorate the tree by walking and balancing on the tape! This is a great activity to work on balance, motor planning, coordination, and core strength! See link for more information: Christmas Activities: Christmas Tree Balance Activity - The Inspired Treehouse.
Snowball Bowling:
Build a tower of plastic cups and knock them down with snowballs (fake white pom balls). If you don’t already have snowballs at home, have no fear! Utilize pairs of socks, rolling them up into a ball for snowballs! Added challenge to the game: have your child balance in ½ kneel position or tall kneel to engage their core! Bonus points if you can knock all the cups down with just one snowball!
Snowman Toss Game:
Work on hand-eye coordination while tossing “snowballs” through the hanging snowman. From Toddler Approved – draw a snowman on poster board and cut. Make sure to cut out the middle for the snowballs to go through. Once the snowman is colored and cut (great for fine motor development!), hang the snowman in the doorway or side of table with sturdy tape. Lastly, grab some paper and crumple into snowballs of all different sizes! Take turns throwing all the snowballs and see who gets the most through the snowman! See link for more information: Snowman Toss Game for Kids - Toddler Approved.
Gross Motor Dice:
Whether it’s climbing up the chimney, or marching like the nutcracker, this fun gross motor dice is simple and free to print out and roll for fun gross motor activities! From 3 Dinosaurs – this holiday themed dice has an additional cube you can create to control the speed of how fast your child completes the task! Great for motor planning and control! See link for your free printable: 3 Dinosaurs - Christmas Gross Motor Dice.