Gross Motor Opportunities for Infants and Toddlers

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Babies and toddlers need to move!  It is exhausting keeping up with Calvin right now at 17 months.  He might stop for a few moments to listen to a book or use some work from his shelf, but the majority of the time he is on the move.  Dr. Montessori recognized the need for gross motor opportunities  not only for their importance in developing the large muscles of the body, but also in their role in healthy brain development.  Children (and adults for that matter) do not learn optimally when they are sitting and listening, reading, or writing all day.  To engage the whole mind, the whole body must be engaged!  The need for gross motor activities is especially important in the toddler age when children are hitting gross motor milestones and first developing skills such as walking, running, climbing, and jumping.

We don't necessarily need to provide specific materials to support a child's gross motor development.  A child looking to pull up on something will find something to pull up on.  A child looking to climb will find something to climb.  We just need to look at our environments and ensure that a child has safe ways to meet their gross motor needs.

Here are a few ways I support Calvin's gross motor development:

Pikler Triangle:  I am so incredibly lucky!  My dad made Calvin's Pikler Triangle for us!  We began with just the triangle when Calvin was 7 months old, and he loved to crawl through it like a tunnel and pull up on the bars.  Once he became interested in climbing, we added a ramp.  He loves using it as a slide and sliding down head first!



Walker Wagon:  We have the Radio Flyer walker wagon.  Before Calvin began walking, he would pull up on it.  We added weight so he wouldn't pull it over onto himself and to slow it down so he could walk with it before he was actually walking.  Now he races around the house with it and has found creative ways to use it such as backwards with one foot on and one foot pushing off the ground like a scooter and sitting in it and using his hands to turn the wheels like a wheelchair.



Rocking Horse:  Technically ours is a rocking moose from Ikea.  It was very inexpensive ($30 I think) and doesn't take up much space.


Play tunnel and tent:  Another great Ikea find!  Calvin had the tunnel in his Nido classroom (Montessori infant class) and loved it, so when I saw it at Ikea I had to get it.  I am so glad I did, because Calvin absolutely loves it!  And so does the dog!  It folds up, too, so I can tuck it into the closet when it's not in use.


Stairs:  Calvin began climbing up and down the stairs around ten months old.  First he would crawl, then scoot down on his bottom, and now he is beginning to actually walk using the hand rail.


Basketball hoop:  I've mentioned before that I am not a huge fan of this giant piece of plastic in my child's room, but I do love the gross motor opportunity it provides.  Calvin loves playing basketball with his dad!


Outdoor play structures:  While they are not all completely appropriate for babies and toddlers, a playground provides many excellent gross motor opportunities!  Calvin especially loves slides!  "Whee!"



Balance Board:  Calvin found our Simply Fit Board (balance board for exercise) in the basement and loved it, so I now include it in his gross motor activity rotation.  I REALLY want a Wobbel Board, probably one with felt on the bottom so it can be used on hardwood floors, but they are quite expensive so the Simply Fit Board will have to do for now.

Wheely Bug:  We don't have this yet, but this is what I plan on getting Calvin for Christmas!  (Shh, don't tell!)  Seeing the creative ways he uses the walker wagon makes me think he would love a ride-on toy!  I was going to get him a balance bike, but I decided in the middle of a Michigan winter I should probably get a toy that can be used indoors instead!

So there are some of the gross motor activities Calvin loves!  How to you provide your baby or toddler with opportunities for gross motor development?

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