Begin with the least threatening tasks followed by tasks that are more challenging and make sure that the activities you introduce are appropriate to your child’s developmental level to ensure that the target motor skills are realistic.Toddlers are ‘coming into their own’ as they grow, and are discovering the effects of their many actions. Offer guidance and support by introducing activities gradually. Movement activities can be a source of anxiety for many kids on the spectrum. The activity is a great way to reach treatment plan goals that involve following directions. Obstacle course stations offer an opportunity to use different gross motor tasks and they can be excellent sequencing activities for kids.
Simple ideas for an obstacle course include: In fact, parents and therapists can begin with a course consisting of one step and gradually introduce additions to the activity. The course does not have to be complex to be effective. The tunnel activity can be transformed into different things, from a train to a campsite.Īn obstacle course is an outstanding activity for improving gross motor skills. Align boxes to create a tunnel or build one using chairs and blankets. You don’t have to buy a tunnel toy to enjoy the crawling activity. Incorporate social skills into the activity using peek-a-boo, hide-and-seek, and pretend play. Gradually make the tasks more challenging by creating step patterns and by using deeper boxes.Ĭrawling through a tunnel can be an extremely enjoyable activity as the child uses motor skills while developing a sense of object permanence. Encourage your child to step in and out of short box as a beginning task. Ideas for pretend play that uses motor skills include:įew things are as impressive as a simple cardboard box when it comes to creating fun activities for children. Pretend play is a considerable challenge in many cases of autism and kids can benefit from moving around while developing their imaginations. Parents and therapists can use dancing with music to encourage imitation and it can be a great way to teach daily living skills. The New York Times article Dance Helps Autistic Children illustrates the importance of this fun motor activity. The task requires the ability to move while focusing on where the bike is going, which can be challenging. Tricycles and bicycles can help develop balance as well as leg muscles. Try a see-saw for balance.īikes for autistic children don’t have to be made especially for kids on the autism spectrum, but some augmented bikes can benefit many. Balancing toys like a rocking see saw can improve skills. Test to see if your child can stand motionless with her eyes closed without losing balance to gauge how much work is necessary to develop balancing skills.Begin with having your child walk on a line followed by walking on balance beams. Balancing Balancing can be very challenging for kids on the autism spectrum and many gross motor tasks demand a good sense of balance. This simple task develops important eye tracking skills and it can encourage motor planning as the child follows the movement of the ball. Begin by rolling a ball back-and-forth with your child. Playing catch may not be realistic as a beginning step but you can work your way up catching over time. Simple things can be a great source of pleasure for a child and among the most impressive is a ball. Some children may demonstrate fewer repetitive movements after engaging in the jumping activity and it can help some kids to calm and organize their behavior. The bouncing motion offers excellent sensory input that can be very helpful in alleviating sensory overload and anxiety in many cases. Encourage the child to begin with the leg movements in place, followed by stepping and arm movements.Ī trampoline is the king of gross motor activities for kids with autism. The task takes walking one step further as children have to imitate the steps. Marching is a simple gross motor activity that can develop a number of different skills. List of Ten Gross Motor Activities for Autistic Children
Some activities are challenging while others are pure fun. Many choices are readily available for parents and professionals working on meeting gross motor goals in a child’s treatment plan.
Explore ten gross motor activities for autistic children that can strengthen muscles while developing valuable skills.
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