Free Preschool Gross Motor Game Ideas

Hopscotch

• The game of hopscotch helps 4- and 5-year-olds develop their balance and coordination by encouraging them to jump and hop. You need a paved area such as a sidewalk or basketball court, some chalk and a medium-sized rock or bean bag to play. Draw a pattern of five squares on the pavement, alternating between a single square and two squares side by side. Label each square with the numbers 1 through 5. Each child in turn throws the rock on to the first square and then jumps over to the second square and continues hopping along until he reaches the fifth square. Each player must then hop back to the first square and pick up his rock without stepping outside the pattern or on the lines or putting both of his feet in one square. The player that is able to keep his balance throughout the game wins.

Hot Potato

• Children between the ages of 4 and 5 years old can practice throwing and catching balls by playing a game of hot potato. In this game, a child stands in the middle of a circle of friends and tosses the ball or bean bag to one of them. That child must then hurry and throw the ball to another child in the group. This continues until the child in the middle of the circle says the words "hot potato." The player that has the ball in her hands at this time loses the game.

Simon Says

• A game of Simon Says helps preschool children practice different movements. It can be played with just two people, so it is a fun game that parents can play with their children. One child plays the role of Simon and instructs the other players to copy his exact movements by saying, "Simon says" first. If Simon does not say, "Simon says" before giving his instructions, then the players that copy him are out of the game.