Move, Play, Grow: Fun Summer Activities to Build Gross Motor Skills

Summer has arrived! With the shift to warmer weather and more downtime for many kids, it’s the perfect time to focus on building strong bodies and active minds through movement. Running, jumping, climbing, and exploring aren’t just fun leisure activities; they also help build gross motor skills and boost cognitive development.

Gross motor development is essential for a child’s physical coordination, strength, balance, and endurance. But physical play also plays an important role in cognitive growth, supporting attention, problem-solving, and even emotional regulation (Tandon et al., 2020). The summer months offer endless opportunities for kids to move their bodies and have fun doing it.

Whether you’re a parent, BCBA, RBT, or anyone else looking for active summer ideas, you’re in the right place. This guide is packed with ideas for supporting gross motor development throughout the summer.

Importance of Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skills form the foundation for everyday movements. They’re needed for simple actions like walking and running, as well as more complex ones like climbing or riding a bike. Any movement that uses the large muscle groups involves gross motor coordination.

These skills are important not only for physical development but also for boosting endurance, spatial awareness, and self-confidence. With strong gross motor abilities, children can:

  • Participate in sports
  • Engage in play activities
  • Complete daily routines
  • Explore outside
  • Enjoy recess and other free time
  • Navigate school and community environments
  • Respond quickly in everyday safety situations (e.g., crossing the street, climbing stairs)

How Physical Play Fuels Body & Brain Development

Physical play offers countless benefits for both body and brain development. Activities that activate large muscle groups can build strength, coordination, and balance, all of which are important for building strong bodies.

Movement through physical activity also plays a powerful role in cognitive growth. Researchers have found that motor and cognitive development are interrelated. Cognitive processes, like thinking, processing information, and problem-solving, are improved through physical activity (Veldman et al., 2019).

Health organizations like the WHO and CDC recommend that children and adolescents engage in 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. However, for many families, especially those with children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), reaching that goal can be challenging.

One study found that 18% of autistic boys 6-11 years of age participate in no physical activity whatsoever, compared to 4% of typically developing boys in the same age range (Stanish et al., 2020). The reasons for reduced physical activity in children with autism and other neurodevelopmental differences are multifaceted and may include one or more of the following:

  • Physical limitations
  • Motor coordination challenges
  • Behavioral challenges
  • Sensory sensitivities
  • Limited access to inclusive programs or adaptive equipment
  • Lower motivation for physical activity/a preference for sedentary activity

Nonetheless, physical activity remains an essential part of development. Parents and therapists are encouraged to incorporate physical activity into every child’s daily activities. These activities don’t have to be structured workouts, non-preferred activities, or organized sports. Movement can (and should) be fun!

Outdoor Summer Activities to Build Gross Motor Skills

Outside play can be one of the best ways to naturally support gross motor development this summer. Here are some fun and simple ideas to build gross motor skills and brain development.

  • Backyard obstacle course—Grab some cones, pool noodles, hula hoops, or whatever else you have and create an obstacle course. This activity is perfect for developing gross motor skills through repetitive jumping, crawling, and balancing.
  • Bike or scooter ride—Get your child out on their bike or scooter to work on balance and core strength. If they have physical limitations that make riding a bike difficult, consider an adaptive bike.
  • Playing on a playground—Playgrounds offer incredible opportunities to target gross motor skills, from climbing and jumping to swinging and sliding. Bonus: If you go to a public playground, there may be peers present for your child to work on social skills, too.
  • Ball play—Kicking, throwing, catching, and dribbling build coordination and spatial awareness. Your child doesn’t have to participate in a specific sport to get active through ball play. Try a few different activities and see what they gravitate toward.
  • Sprinkler play—Running through the sprinkler is a classic summer pastime that doesn’t get old. It encourages running, jumping, agility, and movement timing.
  • Nature scavenger hunt—Stimulate your child’s natural curiosity while keeping their bodies and brains active with an outdoor scavenger hunt.
  • Jump rope—Jumping rope can improve coordination, timing, and stamina.
  • Sandbox digging—Get your child in a sandbox or on the beach and let them dig, run on the sand, or build with buckets and shovels. All of these activities work core muscles, supporting gross motor coordination.
  • Catching fireflies—If you want to help your child release energy just before bed, head outside as the sun sets and catch fireflies together. This is a fun way to get moving through running, leaping, and reaching.
  • Bubble chasing—Similar to catching fireflies, chasing bubbles is another excellent activity to promote movement in a way that feels like pure play, not purposeful physical exercise.
  • Hill rolling or grass tumbling—Locate a safe, grassy hill and let your child roll or tumble down. This can support body awareness and core strength, as well as provide vestibular input.

Indoor Summer Activities to Build Gross Motor Skills

It’s not always possible to get outside, but that doesn’t mean physical activity should come to a halt. Indoor play can still provide plenty of opportunities to strengthen gross motor skills. Let’s explore some options!

  • Indoor sensory gym—Places like We Rock the Spectrum offer safe and inclusive environments where kids with autism and other diverse needs can swing, climb, jump, and explore. We Rock the Spectrum has 192 gyms across the country, including two in North Carolina. They have sensory equipment like trampolines, crash pads, and climbing walls to engage those large muscle groups while providing a fun outlet for movement.
  • Animal walks/races—Move like animals with bear crawls, crab walks, frog jumps, and bunny hops. You can turn it into a race across the room or keep it self-paced. Either way, animal movements are an excellent way for your child to have fun while keeping their body moving, indoors or out.
  • Dance party—Turn on some music and get moving! You can even add a little razzle-dazzle by playing freeze dance, where you pause the music and freeze in a pose, supporting both physical and cognitive development.
  • Couch cushion obstacle course—If you have the space for it, obstacle courses can be set up indoors, too! Arrange couch cushions, climbing blocks, toys, or other objects to create a path that encourages crawling, jumping, balancing, and navigating.
  • Balloon volleyball—Blow up a balloon and see how long you can keep it in the air. This can be beneficial for hand-eye coordination, among other things.
  • Yoga or exercise videos—While many families choose to limit screentime, there are ways to stay active while watching videos. Try Cosmic Yoga or other YouTube videos of child-friendly exercises. There are even adventure-based workout videos that immerse the viewer in physical activity, where they feel like they’re in a video game. These are a great way to sneak in physical activity for children who prefer TV, video games, and other sedentary activities.
  • Hallway bowling—Set up plastic bottles or lightweight pins and roll a soft ball to knock them down. This activity helps with coordination, aim, and control.
  • Simon Says—Activities like Simon Says aren’t just great for incorporating physical movement into a child’s day; they also support the development of listening skills and impulse control.
  • Marching band—Play toy instruments while marching around the room, targeting strength, endurance, and coordination.

Make Movement Part of Summer Fun

Supporting gross motor development doesn’t have to feel like a chore for the child or the parent. However, for children who aren’t naturally drawn to physical play, a little creativity and planning may be required to incorporate movement into their daily routines. Whether your child enjoys hopping like a frog through an obstacle course, exploring a playground, or embarking on a dance party, summer is the perfect time to encourage these activities to support gross motor and cognitive development while creating joyful moments.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Physical activity guidelines for children and adolescents. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/guidelines/children.html

Stanish, H. I., Walter, A., Fenning, R. M., Curtin, C., & Frey, G. C. (2020). Physical activity rates in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 70, 101490.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2019.101490

Tandon, P., Hassairi, N., Soderberg, J., & Joseph, G. (2020). The relationship of gross motor and physical activity environments in child care settings with early learning outcomes. Early child development and care, 190(4), 570–579. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2018.1485670

Veldman, S. L. C., Santos, R., Jones, R. A., Sousa‑Sá, E., & Okely, A. D. (2019). Associations between gross motor skills and cognitive development in toddlers. Early Human Development, 132, 39–44.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2019.04.005