Simple Ways to Build Motor Skills at Home Through Play
As parents, you're already doing so much to help your child learn and grow. The good news is that building important motor skills doesn't have to involve special equipment or structured activities. Some of the best opportunities for development happen during everyday play and routines!
Here are three simple ways to support your child's strength, coordination, balance, and overall development at home.
Turn Everyday Tasks Into Animal Adventures
The next time your child needs to move from one room to another, make it an adventure! Instead of simply walking to the kitchen or bathroom, challenge them to move like different animals.
Some fun ideas include:
Bear walks
Crab walks
Frog jumps
Penguin waddles
Bunny hops
Snake slithers
Animal walks are a playful way to strengthen muscles, improve balance and coordination, develop body awareness, and build gross motor skills. Plus, they add a little extra fun to everyday routines!
Get Moving with Ball Play
Playing with balls is one of the easiest and most effective ways to develop coordination and motor skills.
Try activities such as:
Throwing and catching a playground-sized ball
Kicking a ball toward a target with both the right and left foot
Trapping or stopping a rolling ball
Tossing a smaller ball, such as a tennis ball, using both overhand and underhand throws
Start close together and gradually increase the distance as your child's confidence grows. These activities help children develop hand-eye coordination, timing, motor planning, balance, bilateral coordination, and body control.
Most importantly, keep it fun! Success and enjoyment encourage children to continue practicing and developing new skills.
Make Physical Activity Part of Everyday Life
Children learn by watching the people around them. When they see family members being active, they are more likely to develop healthy habits themselves.
Simple ways to add movement throughout the day include:
Taking a family walk after meals
Visiting a local park
Parking farther from store entrances
Taking the stairs whenever possible
Dancing together in the living room
Playing active games outside
Physical activity is an important part of a child's overall health and development. Regular movement supports strong muscles and bones, improves coordination, helps with attention and regulation, and contributes to overall physical and emotional well-being. Along with nutritious foods and quality sleep, daily movement helps children thrive.
Adventure Challenge
This week, try one animal walk, one ball activity, and one family movement activity each day. Small moments of play add up and can have a big impact on your child's development!
At Adventure Pediatric Therapy, we believe that meaningful learning happens through connection, play, and everyday experiences. If you have questions about your child's motor development or would like additional ideas tailored to your child, we'd love to help.
About the author:
Molly Cahill, PT, DPT, is a dedicated pediatric physical therapist with extensive experience supporting children from birth through young adulthood. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about helping children develop the skills they need to learn, grow, play, and confidently explore their environments.
Currently working as a travel therapist, Molly has spent the past two years providing care in pediatric clinics and school settings across Arizona, Montana, and Idaho. This diverse experience has strengthened her ability to adapt her approach to meet the unique needs of each child and community she serves.
Originally from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Molly later established her home in Maine after completing her graduate education. She is committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care and continually advances her clinical expertise through ongoing professional development. Her continuing education includes specialized training in total motion release (TMR), plagiocephaly and torticollis, task-specific electrical stimulation (TASES), toe walking, and primitive reflex integration.
Outside of her professional work, Molly enjoys staying active and spending time outdoors. Her favorite activities include snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking, and running.
Molly is excited to be part of the Boise community and looks forward to helping your child reach their full potential.