Developing gross motor skills is essential for child development. That means it’s a great idea to have toys that give your kids opportunities to improve those skills which also double as fun. Gross motor skills are what help your child walk, run, climb, kick, balance, throw, and more!
There are a lot of great gross motor toys out there to choose from, so I put together a list of some my favorites to help you narrow down your choices.
GROSS MOTOR SKILL: BALANCING
Teeter Popper I love that kids can really use their imaginations for how to play with this toy. For example, they can sit, stand, rock, or roll, and they’ll love the pop, pop, pop sound!
Bilibo by MOLUK The Bilibo is definitely built for kids. For example, it’s made using materials that are shock-resistant, weather proof, and food safe. It can be anything your kids want it to be, encouraging imagination, creativity, and gross motor skills development.
Pogo Stick Pogo sticks aren’t just amazingly fun – they’re actually great for improving balance and control!
Wooden Balance Board The possibilities of fun active play for this balance board are endless. Surprisingly, it can hold up to 480lbs which means grownups can enjoy it too!
GROSS MOTOR SKILL: RIDING
Cars Soft Play Rocker This soft rocker is great for improving balance (a gross motor skill!), and is sure to bring joy into playtime for your little one.
Free Style Kids Bike If you need a reliable bike that can grow with your child, this one can’t be beat. It has a short grip distance for the break lever that is perfect for little hands. In addition to the adjustable seat, the handle bars adjust in height too!
Ride on Crane Digger Your construction loving child will absolutely love this digging crane. It has dual controls that improve motor skills, hand-eye coordination and dexterity. It rotates 360 degrees and works in sand, dirt or snow.
Floor Scooter I remember these floor scooters from my favorite days of Elementary School gym class, and now kids can enjoy them at home too! Great for improving the gross motor skills of balance and coordination, and also for good old-fashioned family fun!
EzyRoller Ride On The EzyRoller can really help kids improve their coordination. To illustrate, kids propel forward by pumping their feet back and forth on the feet bars and then use their hand to pull the break when they’re ready to stop. They will love this!
Stick Horse You can never go wrong with a stick horse toy. I love how they can help develop balance and encourage imaginative adventures for your little ones.
GROSS MOTOR SKILL: CLIMBING
Climbing requires the use of multiple muscle groups at once and is a perfect way for your kids to develop gross motor skills. I broke this list up into two categories: indoor climbing toys and outdoor climbing toys.
INDOOR CLIMBING TOYS
Indoor Climbing Dome Your kids will love this climbing dome for active play indoors! Also, Lily & River is a high quality brand you can trust.
Indoor Playground Wow! Make your child’s dreams come true with this amazing playground! The design allows for improvement of a variety of gross motor skills and hours of active play.
Indoor Climbing Ladder This climbing ladder is an excellent way to elevate active playtime. It’s designed to help your child strengthen arms and legs, increase hand-eye coordination, and balance. This would look so cute in a playroom or bedroom.
Indoor Climbing Set This set comes with 3 amazing pieces and an endless number of possibilities for adventure, development, and fun! The quality is really great too; it was definitely made to last!
OUTDOOR CLIMBING TOYS
Climbing Teepee This mega out door climbing teepee is the ultimate active play experience. It has an install height of 9.5 feet, climbing rings, a solar panel with LED’s, and a hover plat form. It may be big, but the hours of fun and gross motor development will be worth finding a space for this!
Water Proof Saucer Tree Swing This swing is the best. It’s big and sturdy enough to fit multiple kids at once definitely making it a favorite active play option for backyard fun!
Tree Climbing Rope This climbing rope is definitely a fun addition for the yard. Attach it to a swing set or tree branch and watch as your kids improve coordination, strength, and confidence as they play!
Ninja Tree Climbing Holds Outdoor play just got more exciting with these awesome rock climbing holds. You can turn any tree into a climbing adventure that is sure to be so much fun!
SENSORY DEVELOPMENT TOYS
Anytime your child is doing an activity that involves their senses they are developing language and motor skills. These toys add a fun sensory element to activities like walking, running or jumping that also improve gross motor skills. Read more about sensory play here!
Liquid Floor Tiles These floor tiles are great for building curiosity and promoting sensory development. Playing hopscotch on the tiles is a great form of active play and your child will love the feel of the liquid squishing under their feet!
Calming Sensory Shapes This set includes 5 small circles and 5 larger shapes with a variety of colors and textures. It is sure to provide a soothing sensory experience as your child walks or jumps on top of each shape.
Rubbabu Bowling Set The soft, squishy feel of this bowling set definitely makes it the very best for your babies and toddlers! Again, it’s the perfect example of a toy that combines sensory and gross motor skills development.
Zoo Crew Beanbag Toss This beanbag toss is absolutely stunning. Your child will love trying to knock over these adorable animals as they enhance their large motor skills through tossing the cotton bean bags.
Sensory Puzzle Play Mats I love this play mat! It’s puzzle shaped and comes in several different textures. Perfect for walking, running and crawling on!
Stapelstein Stepping Stones These stepping stones are so cool and unique. They definitely encourage movement through active play and have so many possibilities for creative fun for the whole family. You can stack them into a table, use them as bowls for sorting toys, or jump around from one color to the next!
Okay, these are the kind of toys that will leave a lasting impression on your child. They’ll develop gross motor skills, but more importantly, they’ll have fun with these toys for years to come. I’d love you to leave a comment and tell me which item on the list you’re dying to get for your little one!
