Gross Motor Skills

Parents: Some of the PE / Gross motor activities may need specific equipment. If you haven’t got this equipment, try using something similar or liaise with school to see if you could borrow what you need.

Gross Motor Skills involve movements of the large muscles of the arms, legs and torso for activities like walking, balance, jumping or hopping.

Choose 3 -5 exercises from level 1 from each area that corresponds with the child’s difficulties. Complete the exercises 4 times per week for at least 20 minutes each time. Continue with these exercises for 4 weeks.

At the end of the 4 weeks, if the child can achieve these activities consistently, move on to choosing 3-5 exercises from level 2 from each area that corresponds with the child’s difficulties, continue with these exercises for a further 4 weeks.

At the end of 8 weeks, if the child can achieve the activities consistently, move on to choosing 3-5 exercises from the final level 3 from each area that corresponds with the child’s difficulties, continue with these exercises for the final 4 weeks.

Spend time each week in-between sessions practicing the specific activity that the child has difficulty with.

General gross motor difficulties
PE difficulties
Difficulties with jumping/hopping
Difficulties with skipping
Child struggles in the park/monkey bars
My child is behind his/her peers
My child falls frequently and trips
My child is clumsy / banging into things
My child is wobbly on feet, has difficulties with balance
My child has difficulties with general coordination
My child has difficulties with swimming
My child is unable to ride a scooter
My child has difficulties with throwing and catching
My child has difficulties with kicking a ball
My child is unable to ride a bike
My child struggles with stairs
My child is very cautious/not confident
My child can’t walk far

Page last reviewed: 5 June, 2025