Collection: Movement Play and Gross Motor Skills

Encourage active play, stronger bodies and confident movement with the Movement Play & Gross Motor Skills collection from LaughSteps.

Explore practical balance equipment, hoops, bean bags, cones, stepping stones, crawling tunnels and play parachutes for toddlers, preschool children, Grade R learners, homes, crèches, nursery schools, daycare centres and early-learning programmes.

Gross motor play helps children develop the large muscles used for walking, running, jumping, climbing, balancing, crawling, throwing and catching. These activities also support coordination, body awareness, confidence and participation in everyday play.

Active Learning Through Movement

Young children need regular opportunities to move.

Movement play gives children a chance to explore what their bodies can do while developing important physical, cognitive and social skills. A simple obstacle course, balancing activity or throwing game can turn exercise into purposeful learning.

Gross motor activities can help children develop:

• Balance
• Coordination
• Core strength
• Body awareness
• Spatial awareness
• Muscle strength
• Posture
• Agility
• Endurance
• Hand-eye coordination
• Confidence
• Teamwork
• Listening skills
• Following instructions

Movement play can be used indoors or outdoors, depending on the available space and equipment.

Balance Equipment

Balance equipment helps children practise stability, posture and controlled movement.

Children can walk, stand, step or move across balance resources while learning to adjust their bodies and maintain control. These activities support the core muscles and coordination needed for everyday movement.

Balance equipment may include:

• Balance beams
• Balance boards
• Rocking equipment
• Wobble boards
• Balance paths
• Stepping platforms
• Foot placement markers

Balance activities can support:

• Core stability
• Leg strength
• Posture
• Coordination
• Concentration
• Motor planning
• Confidence

Teachers can begin with low, simple balance activities and gradually increase the challenge as children become more capable.

Hoops

Hoops are versatile movement resources that can be used for many physical and classroom activities.

Children can jump into them, roll them, carry them, throw them or use them as markers during games and obstacle courses.

Hoops can be used for:

• Jumping activities
• Colour recognition
• Sorting games
• Target throwing
• Group games
• Obstacle courses
• Movement instructions
• Spatial awareness
• Rhythm and music activities

Teachers can place hoops on the floor and ask children to jump from one to another, stand inside a specific colour or move around them according to instructions.

Bean Bags

Bean bags are easy to hold and useful for throwing, catching, balancing and target activities.

Their soft construction makes them suitable for indoor and outdoor movement play. They can also be used to teach colours, numbers, body parts and positional language.

Bean bag activities may include:

• Throwing into a hoop
• Catching with two hands
• Balancing on the head
• Carrying on the shoulder
• Tossing to a partner
• Walking while balancing
• Throwing at a target
• Passing in a group
• Sorting by colour

Bean bag play can support:

• Hand-eye coordination
• Aiming
• Catching
• Grip control
• Balance
• Body awareness
• Turn-taking

Cones

Cones are practical markers for organising active play areas, races, obstacle courses and sports activities.

They can be used to create clear boundaries, movement paths and starting or finishing points.

Cones are useful for:

• Running drills
• Zigzag courses
• Relay races
• Direction games
• Ball activities
• Cycling or scooter routes
• Team games
• Indoor and outdoor obstacle courses

Teachers can also use different coloured cones to give movement instructions, such as running to the red cone, crawling to the blue cone or jumping around the yellow cone.

Stepping Stones

Stepping stones encourage children to move carefully from one point to another without stepping onto the floor.

These activities help children practise balance, distance judgement and controlled foot placement.

Stepping stones may support:

• Balance
• Coordination
• Leg strength
• Spatial planning
• Concentration
• Confidence
• Motor planning

They can be arranged in straight lines, curves, circles or obstacle courses. Teachers can change the distance between the stones to create easier or more challenging activities.

Stepping stones are also useful for imaginative play. Children can pretend they are crossing a river, moving through a jungle or avoiding hot lava.

Crawling Tunnels

Crawling tunnels encourage children to move on their hands and knees while navigating an enclosed space.

Crawling supports shoulder stability, core strength and coordination between both sides of the body. It also helps children practise body awareness and movement planning.

Crawling tunnels can be used during:

• Obstacle courses
• Imaginative play
• Indoor movement sessions
• Group activities
• Sensory play
• Physical development programmes

Children can crawl through the tunnel, collect an object, follow a friend or complete a movement sequence.

Some children may feel uncertain about enclosed spaces, so they should be encouraged gently and never forced to enter.

Play Parachutes

Play parachutes create exciting opportunities for cooperative movement and group participation.

Children can hold the edges, lift the parachute, lower it, shake it or move underneath it. Parachute games can be used with balls, bean bags, music and movement instructions.

Parachute activities may support:

• Teamwork
• Listening
• Rhythm
• Upper-body strength
• Coordination
• Social interaction
• Turn-taking
• Group participation

Popular parachute games include:

• Making waves
• Lifting and lowering together
• Rolling balls across the surface
• Moving underneath the parachute
• Changing places
• Following colour instructions
• Creating a mushroom shape

Parachutes work best when children understand the rules and participate under adult supervision.

Gross Motor Activities for Toddlers

Toddlers benefit from simple movement activities that allow them to crawl, walk, carry, push, throw and climb safely.

Suitable activities may include:

• Crawling through a short tunnel
• Walking between cones
• Stepping over low obstacles
• Rolling a hoop
• Carrying bean bags
• Throwing into a large target
• Walking across wide balance equipment
• Moving between floor markers

Toddler movement equipment should be low, stable and appropriate for the child’s age and ability.

Gross Motor Activities for Preschoolers

Preschool children can usually manage more structured activities that combine balance, movement and simple instructions.

Suitable activities may include:

• Obstacle courses
• Stepping-stone paths
• Bean bag target games
• Hoop jumping
• Cone races
• Parachute games
• Balance challenges
• Crawling and climbing sequences
• Relay activities

These activities can be adapted for individuals, pairs or groups.

Supporting School Readiness

Gross motor development supports more than physical fitness.

Children need body control, posture, coordination and core strength to sit at a table, concentrate during lessons and manage classroom activities.

Movement play may help support:

• Sitting posture
• Shoulder stability
• Pencil control
• Attention
• Following instructions
• Crossing the body’s midline
• Spatial awareness
• Classroom confidence
• Participation in group activities

Active children often have better opportunities to release energy and return to quieter tasks with improved focus.

Crossing the Midline

Crossing the midline means moving an arm or leg across the centre of the body.

This skill is important for coordinated movement, reading, writing and using both sides of the body together.

Activities that may encourage crossing the midline include:

• Throwing bean bags across the body
• Reaching for objects on the opposite side
• Crawling through curved courses
• Moving hoops from side to side
• Parachute games
• Large drawing movements
• Passing objects around a circle

Regular movement play can help children develop this skill naturally.

Create a Preschool Obstacle Course

An obstacle course combines different movement skills into one activity.

A simple course may include:

1. Walking between cones
2. Jumping through hoops
3. Crawling through a tunnel
4. Crossing stepping stones
5. Balancing on a beam
6. Throwing a bean bag into a target

Obstacle courses can be changed regularly to keep children interested and introduce new challenges.

For younger children, keep the course short and simple. Older preschoolers may enjoy more complex instructions and timed activities.

Indoor and Outdoor Movement Play

Gross motor play does not always require a large sports field.

Indoor activities may include:

• Bean bag games
• Hoop activities
• Short crawling tunnels
• Floor markers
• Simple balance paths
• Parachute games
• Movement songs

Outdoor areas allow for larger activities such as:

• Running
• Relay races
• Full obstacle courses
• Throwing games
• Cycling routes
• Large parachute activities
• Team games

Always check that the play area is clear, safe and suitable for the activity.

Ideal for Preschools, Crèches and Early-Learning Centres

Movement equipment is useful in:

• Preschools
• Crèches
• Nursery schools
• Daycare centres
• Grade R classrooms
• Homeschool environments
• Therapy settings
• Playgroups
• Indoor play centres
• Children’s activity programmes

Teachers can use movement resources during:

• Outdoor play
• Physical development lessons
• Morning movement
• Music and movement
• Group games
• Sports days
• School-readiness sessions
• Sensory-motor activities
• Free play
• Indoor rainy-day activities

Choosing Gross Motor Equipment

When selecting movement equipment, consider:

• The children’s ages
• The available space
• Indoor or outdoor use
• Weight and storage
• Stability
• Durability
• Ease of cleaning
• Group size
• Level of supervision required
• The skills you want to develop

Choose equipment that offers an appropriate challenge without creating unnecessary risk.

Movement Play Safety

Children should always use gross motor equipment under appropriate adult supervision.

Before starting an activity:

• Check the equipment for damage
• Clear the area of obstacles
• Use equipment on a suitable surface
• Allow enough space between children
• Explain the rules clearly
• Match the activity to the children’s abilities
• Avoid activities that are too high or unstable
• Stop the activity if children become tired or unsafe

Movement play should be enjoyable, challenging and well managed.

Why Choose LaughSteps?

LaughSteps supplies educational toys, movement equipment and preschool resources that help children build skills through active play.

Our Movement Play & Gross Motor Skills collection is selected for parents, teachers, crèches, daycare centres, nursery schools and early-learning programmes across South Africa.

From balance paths and crawling tunnels to hoops, bean bags and parachutes, these resources help children move with greater strength, control and confidence.

Shop gross motor toys and movement equipment online with delivery options available across South Africa.

Move more. Grow stronger. Take happy steps with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are gross motor skills?

Gross motor skills are movements that use the large muscles of the body. These include walking, running, jumping, crawling, balancing, throwing and catching.

Why are gross motor skills important?

Gross motor skills help children move safely, participate in play, maintain posture, coordinate their bodies and complete everyday physical activities.

What toys help develop gross motor skills?

Useful gross motor toys include balance equipment, hoops, bean bags, cones, stepping stones, crawling tunnels, balls and play parachutes.

Are obstacle courses good for preschool children?

Yes. Obstacle courses can help develop balance, coordination, strength, motor planning and confidence. The course should be matched to the children’s ages and abilities.

How do bean bags support development?

Bean bags can help children practise throwing, catching, aiming, balancing and hand-eye coordination.

What are the benefits of crawling tunnels?

Crawling tunnels can support core strength, shoulder stability, bilateral coordination, body awareness and motor planning.

Can gross motor activities be done indoors?

Yes. Hoops, bean bags, short tunnels, floor markers, balance paths and movement games can be used indoors when enough safe space is available.

Are play parachutes suitable for group activities?

Yes. Parachutes are ideal for supervised group play and can encourage teamwork, listening, coordination and social participation.

What age can children use stepping stones?

Stepping stones are available for different ages. Always follow the product’s recommended age and use them on a stable surface under adult supervision.

Does LaughSteps deliver gross motor equipment in South Africa?

LaughSteps is an online educational toy and preschool-supply store serving customers across South Africa. Delivery availability, product dimensions and estimated delivery times are shown on the relevant product page or during checkout.