Bedsheet Parachute
I remember loving parachutes as a kid and my kids certainly
love parachutes too! You can quickly make a DIY parachute using a bedsheet. So
grab a twin-sized or even smaller (like a crib or toddler bed sized) bedsheet
for this easy gross motor idea!
Get the kids (or even you!) to hold onto the end of the
bedsheet and work together to try and shake a small stuffed animal or ball off
of the parachute!
Balloon Sports
Balloons are always a go to for us when I need to get the
kids moving and blowing off excess energy! You can play volleyball, basketball,
soccer, and tennis with just a simple balloon.
Balloon Waddling Races
For this activity, you just need one balloon. You could blow
up multiple balloons if you'd like to have your kids race against each other at
the same time. Otherwise, you could just time each child with a stopwatch or
let the kids work on their social skills by taking turns.
To play, simply hold the balloon between your knees and
waddle from point A to point B without dropping the balloon. Waddle just like a
penguin, which is what my five-year old literally did!
Obstacle Course
Another favorite way to blow off energy indoors is with an
obstacle course. We use tunnels, gym mats, mini trampoline, chairs, couch
cushions, and really anything else that we have on hand. So use whatever you
have and make it into an obstacle course to get the kids moving!
Animal Walk Races
When my kids need a body break at home, we like to do animal
walks. Think crab walks, bear walks, or even the wheelbarrow walk (okay, I know
it's not an animal, but you get the point). All of these animal walks are great
for providing calming deep pressure to joints in addition to burning off
energy!
Cardboard Box Hurdles
For this activity, all you need are a variety of cardboard
boxes that the kids can jump over. Set up a row of boxes to hurdle over and let
them jump, hop, or skip over the boxes. So inexpensive, but totally fun!
Couch Cushion Or Pillow Jumping
Pull out all of your decorative pillows and couch cushions
for this easy gross motor jumping activity! Set up a path of cushions and
pillows and tell your kids that the floor is lava. They have to jump from
cushion to cushion without falling into the lava! Such a classic activity!
One Leg Balancing
We have balance cushions at home for both of my boys. We use
them mostly as a substitute for buying balance stools to sit on. However, we
also like to use them for simple balance activities like this one. If you don't
have a balance cushion, then just use a small pillow instead.
Encourage your kids to try balancing on one leg while
standing on the balance cushion. It's harder than your kids will think it is!
Try timing your kids to see who can balance the longest.
Stuffed Animal Throw
Grab a laundry basket (a large bucket or cardboard box can
be used as an alternative if your laundry basket is currently overflowing with
laundry waiting to be folded) and your kids' favorite stuffed animals. Then
have them throw their beloved stuffies into the laundry basket. Keep score if
you want or encourage your kids to back up each time they make a successful
toss.
Laundry Basket Push
This simple gross motor activity is a great heavy work
activity for kids and can be calming for many kids because of the sensory input
that it provides. Simply fill a laundry basket up with toys or books or even a
small toddler and have your child push it across the room. The heavier it is,
obviously, the hard it is for them to push. So if the basket is too heavy, then
encourage your kids to work together to push it. Nothing like sneaking in a
little social skills learning like teamwork!
The
best part of this is that all of these activities use items from around the house,
making them simple enough to do when you need an activity like right now.
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