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How a child's brain develops through early experiences

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Preschool TK Learning Foundations (PTKLF)

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Preschool TK Learning Foundations (PTKLF)

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The California Preschool Learning Foundations outline key knowledge and skills that most children can achieve when provided with the kinds of interactions, instruction, and environments that research has shown to promote early learning and development. The foundations can provide early childhood educators, parents, and the public with a clear understanding of the wide range of knowledge and skills that preschool children typically attain when given the benefits of a high-quality preschool program.

The foundations were developed using an inclusive and deliberative input process, including statewide stakeholder meetings, public input sessions held throughout the state, public hearings, and public comment. Input from the various review opportunities was considered and incorporated as appropriate.

California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1

On January 22, 2008, the California Department of Education (CDE) released the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume (PDF; 5MB) . Former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell stated that these foundations offer our early childhood educators a clear understanding of what our youngest learners should know before entering kindergarten.

Volume 1 of the California Preschool Learning Foundations focuses on the domains of social-emotional development, language and literacy, English-language development, and mathematics. They provide a comprehensive understanding of what children learn in these four domains.

In an effort to partner with parents in the education of their preschool children, key sections of the publication are available and have been translated to support parents' understanding of the preschool learning foundations, their purpose, and what they describe as the knowledge and skills that children typically attain at 48 and 60 months of age. The translations include traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, Hmong, Korean, Pilipino (Tagalog), Spanish, and Vietnamese, and are based on the prevalent non-English languages spoken by parents of preschool children in California.

Foreword by former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell
Available Translations of the Foreword by former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell

Introduction to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1
Available Translations of the Introduction to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1

Appendix to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1 (DOC)
Available Translations of the Appendix to the Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1

The California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1, can be purchased from CDE Press by calling the toll-free number at 1-800-995-4099, or by ordering through the CDE Press Catalog Listings of Publications (Item Number 001681) . The price of the publication is $21.95.

Fundamentos del Aprendizaje Preescolar de California, Volumen 1 (PDF)
Spanish translation of the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1

California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2

The California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2 covers the skills and knowledge that children attain at around 36 months and 48 months in the domain areas of visual and performing arts, physical development, and health.

Foreword by former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell
Available Translations of the Foreword by former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell

Introduction to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2
Available Translations of the Introduction to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2

Appendixes to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2

The California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2, can be purchased from CDE Press by calling the toll-free number at 1-800-995-4099, or by ordering through the CDE Press Catalog Listings of Publications (Item Number 001708) . The price of the publication is $21.95.

Fundamentos del Aprendizaje Preescolar de California, Volumen 2 (PDF)
Spanish translation of the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2

California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3

The California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3 covers the skills and knowledge that children attain at around 36 months and 48 months in the domain areas of history-social science and science.

Foreword by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
Available Translations of the Foreword by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson

Introduction to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3
Available Translations of the Introduction to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3

Appendix A to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3
Available Translations of Appendix A to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3

The California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3, can be purchased from CDE Press by calling the toll-free number at 1-800-995-4099, or by ordering through the CDE Press Catalog Listings of Publications (Item Number 001727) . The price of the publication is $21.95.

Fundamentos del Aprendizaje Preescolar de California, Volumen 3 (PDF)
Spanish translation of the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3

Additional Resources

Further information about the Preschool Learning Foundations is provided in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document clarifying key issues for early childhood educators, administrators, and stakeholders. For information about some professional development opportunities, please refer to the California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN) .
Return to Publications
Last Reviewed: Thursday, February 23, 2023

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The foundations outline key knowledge and skills that most children can achieve when provided with the kinds of interactions, instruction, and environments that research has shown to promote early learning and development.

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Creating a Positive Sensory Menu for Students

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Creating a Positive Sensory Menu for Students

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What is the difference between a social emotional curriculum and a trauma informed, responsive and healing engaged curriculum?  Why do teachers need both?  

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What is the difference between a social emotional curriculum and a trauma informed, responsive and healing engaged curriculum?  Why do teachers need both?  

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Social-Emotional Learning and Development • TKCalifornia

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Promote social-emotional learning in your TK classroom by embedding your teaching practices. You have the opportunity to play a vital role in children’s lives.

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Article: Social and Emotional Skill Progression in Preschool

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Article: Social and Emotional Skill Progression in Preschool

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Early Childhood Education

Like cognitive development, kids' social and emotional skill development has a typical trajectory that teachers can track and guide.

Providing preschool students with lessons in social and emotional learning (SEL) is just as important as introducing them to the alphabet and basic numeracy skills.

In SEL from the Start, Sara Rimm-Kaufman is clear that "social-emotional skills can have valuable payoffs in academics and life beyond the classroom" and that the time to start building SEL is when kids are very young. This was the mantra of Myrna Shure and George Spivack half a century ago when their I Can Problem Solve (ICPS) program was introduced to preschoolers.

Despite the long history of work in this area, I still hear some uncertainty among teachers about what kinds of SEL skills we might reasonably expect from preschoolers and how to set up classrooms to activate these skills.

Recognizing that children will enter preschool at various levels of SEL skills, we can expect them to move toward mastery by the time they enter kindergarten. For this to happen, they will benefit from frequent reminders to use their skills and some help with breaking them down into a series of steps for learning purposes.

Drawing from ICPS and other SEL efforts directed at preschool students, here is a brief, practical guide to SEL and young children.

4 Key SEL Skills for Preschool Students

1. They should know how to operate in a classroom. That means they are eager to participate and help out in class. They pay attention to the overt nonverbal cues of peers and adults, listen carefully to what classmates and adults say, cooperate in groups (taking turns, asking for and giving help), and follow directions. They should adhere to norms about safety, health, and appearance (including being willing to be cleaned up; avoiding electrical outlets, fan blades, and similar dangers; and avoiding putting inappropriate things in their mouths).

2. They should master basic emotions. Preschoolers should show at least some concern for the distress of others even though they may be reluctant to help out without adult prompting or guidance. They should share in the joy of others. They should recognize and label the following emotions in themselves, in others, and in pictures: sadness, anger, happiness, fear, surprise, upset, worry, and pride.

When children entering kindergarten have a hard time identifying aspects of themselves or their actions about which they are proud, that is a warning sign that should lead to a conversation with caregivers and perhaps school mental health professionals.

3. They should have a conversational vocabulary around key social situations. Young children need to be helped to find the words for common situations they will find themselves in. These include using words when they want something or are frustrated, asking for help, helping others, thanking or in other ways showing gratitude, showing concern, and talking about accomplishments.

4. They should start practicing key concepts for social and emotional literacy. When Grover, on Sesame Street, talks to kids about near and far, he is taking a page out of Myrna Shure's ICPS playbook. She and George Spivack identified key word "pairs" that are the foundations of human relationships and problem-solving. These create brain architecture and executive functioning so that children can understand the world around them. In addition to talking about near and far, help preschoolers understand these concepts by using these words often:

Is/is not

Same/different

Can/cannot, may/may not (indicating permission)

And/or/else

Some/all

Before/after/next

If/then

Setting up preschool Classrooms To Support a Positive Social and Emotional Climate

Preschoolers in particular feel great comfort and support from explicit classroom routines. These routines help with if/then, may/may not, before/after/next, and many other SEL-related competencies. Routines for entering the classroom, getting into circle time, preparing for meals and snacks, cleaning up, and getting ready for outdoor activities and dismissal are essential; having songs as part of these routines facilitates memory (for teachers and parents as well!). Other ways to help students feel comfortable and provide opportunities to exercise their young SEL muscles in their classroom environments include the following:

Having clear, visibly posted classroom and school rules that include expectations for positive behavior, respecting classmates and adults

Providing opportunities for all children to regularly make contributions to the routines and maintenance of the classroom

Providing frequent teacher redirection as an alternative to verbal reprimands

Creating vehicles for positive recognition and acknowledgment of the strengths of all children

Experiencing laughter, joy, fun, and a sense of wonder, and showing curiosity about how and why things happen around them in school, the community, the world

Celebrating holidays and family customs and respecting those of others

Participating in community events so that children learn a sense that they matter and can make a difference in the world (e.g., recycling, sharing, helping others)

In addition, it's valuable to regularly include brief activities that explicitly stimulate the social-emotional-cognitive architecture noted earlier. For example, teachers can use picture naming and rhyming in formats like the Simon Says game to teach students the concepts of same, all, some, and is/is not. Or you can use alliteration to teach careful listening (e.g., differentiating cat from cot or rat; knowing the similarity of book, bag, and ball). The skills these activities emphasize are the building blocks of good problem-solving and decision-making.

Here is one of my favorites, from the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) SELect Social Decision Making/Problem Solving Program: "I am going to say some words. I want you to clap when you hear the word cat (or, clap when you hear a word that rhymes with-sounds the same as- cat, or that is not cat): Cat-Bat-Car-Flat-Cat-Cat-Cup-Mat-Car-Cat."

Kids love these games, and it's rewarding to watch them get better over time with your guidance.

As you can see, preschoolers already have SEL skills. It's our job to provide reminders, guidance, and supportive conditions that will allow their skills to grow.

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Social and Emotional Skill Progression in Preschool

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Like cognitive development, kids' social and emotional skill development has a typical trajectory that teachers can track and guide.

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Trigger Stop App (the user guide and PDF template links are now working)

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Trigger Stop App (the user guide and PDF template links are now working)

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Social Emotional APP for Early Childhood

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Trigger Stop: Sensory and Emotional Check-In (available in the Apple and Android stores) Welcome to Trauma Trigger Stop: Sensory and Emotional Check-In Application for children ages 0-8. Free user guide and video optimalbrainintegration.com/resources

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The Difference Between a Trauma and Social Emotional Curriculum Explained

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The Difference Between a Trauma and Social Emotional Curriculum Explained

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The Difference Between a Trauma and Social-Emotional Curriculum Explained (5 Minutes)

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How Do Social-Emotional Competencies Develop Across the P-3 Continuum?

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How Do Social-Emotional Competencies Develop Across the P-3 Continuum?

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How do social-emotional competencies develop across the preschool to third grade continuum?

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How Do Movement, Music and Art Foundations Support Early Childhood Development?

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How Do Movement, Music and Art Foundations Support Early Childhood Development?

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How do movement, music, and art standards support early childhood development?

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The Responsive TK Classroom_ Integrating SEL, Development, and Healing-Informed Care (3).pdf

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PTKLF: Language and Literacy Development

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PTKLF: Language and Literacy Development

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shaker_activity_flyer (1)-compressed - Adobe cloud storage

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7 Books to Help Teach Emotional Intelligence

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7 Books to Help Teach Emotional Intelligence

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7 Books to Help Teach Emotional Intelligence

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Teachers can guide students to recognize and understand their emotions by grounding conversations in engaging books.

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The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning: Children's Book List

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The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning: Children's Book List

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“Shake Your Sillies Out” - Activity Guide

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7 Fun Prewriting Activities for Preschoolers

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7 Fun Prewriting Activities for Preschoolers

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7 Fun Pre-Writing Activities for Preschoolers - Begin Learning

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Discover how pre-writing activities help preschoolers learn to write letters and numbers, and get 7 fun activities from the learning experts at Begin.

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22 Prewriting Activities for Preschoolers

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22 Prewriting Activities for Preschoolers

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Pre-writing activities for preschoolers not only help our youngest learners learn the shape and structure of the letters in the alphabet, but they also serve a number of other functions as well. According to education blogger Lisette, from Where Imagination Grows, pre-writing practice teaches directionality in writing, encourages fine muscle development and coordination, and also helps students process sensory information critical to the writing process.

Here are 22 super fun, easy-to-make activities that your preschoolers will love!

1. Squishy Bags

Source: Learning4kids

All you need to make these awesome sensory bags is resealable zipper storage bags, flour, water, and food coloring. Kids can use cotton swabs or their fingers to draw shapes, lines, and letters on the bag.

2. Bubble Wrap

Source: Coffee Cups and Crayons

What a great way to recycle all that leftover bubble wrap! Simply write letters on sheets of bubble wrap with a Sharpie and let kids pop their way to letter recognition.

3. Play-Doh Snakes

Source: In My World

Kids can't resist the sensory lure of Play-Doh! For this activity, kids can roll small balls of dough into long snakes and form letters by bending and joining the snakes together.

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4. Play-Doh and Drinking Straws

Source: KidActivitiesBlog

Flatten out a medium-size piece of Play-Doh on a flat surface. Then use a sharp object to draw a letter on the flattened area. (Make sure that the letter is large enough to be easily recognizable when filled with straws.) Cut plastic straws into one-inch segments. Let kids "trace" the letters with the colorful straw segments.

5. Dot Markers

Source: 3 Dinosaurs

Students use dot markers to practice the mechanics of writing and get used to the angles and curves of letters. Click on the link above to download 12 free pages of pre-writing dot marker worksheets.

6. Cotton Swabs and Paint

Source: Lessons Learnt Journal

This is a fun activity to help kids work on their fine motor skills and get the hang of the all-important pencil grip.

7. LEGO Blocks

Source: Wildflower Ramblings

Blocks! Young kids can't get enough of building and creating with them. Put their creative energy to good work with these free printable letter cards.

8. Shaving Cream

Source: Mess for Less

This classic activity is a great starting place for pre-writers. All you need is a tray and a can of shaving cream.

9. Glitter Glue

Source: Growing Hands-On Kids

Pre-writing lines are important building blocks for any preschooler to master before learning letter formations. Download this glitter glue pre-writing line practice for preschoolers activity.

10. Beads

Source: Artsy Momma

Just like the one above, this activity builds fine motor skills that your young students need to begin writing. Instead of using glitter glue, though, students use inexpensive pony beads (found at any craft store) to follow the lines.

11. Sand Tray

Source: Our Little House in the Country

One of the simplest activities to put together for your students to practice pre-writing is a sand tray. Kids can use their fingers or an unsharpened pencil to practice writing. As an alternative to sand, you can fill your tray with salt, flour, cornmeal, or rice.

12. Squeeze Bottle

Source:: Playdough to Plato

Fill a plastic squeeze bottle with salt or sugar and let students trace letters on cards.

13. Rainbow Tray

Source: Where Imagination Grows

This resource is so simple to make, and kids love it! Simply tape colored tissue paper in a rainbow pattern to the bottom of a clear plastic tray. Fill it with sand, and as the kids trace lines and letters, the colors below are revealed. The image above shows the tray on top of a light table, which adds another dimension of fun to the activity!

14. Masking Tape

Source: And Next Comes L

A roll of colored masking tape and a clear surface make this a fun center activity at writing time.

15. Magnet Board

Source: Days with Gray

Tape letters onto a magnet board and let your little ones trace them with magnets. In the example above, the teacher made the letters into roads, and the students drove their car magnets along them.

16. Lacing Cards

Source: Teaching Mama

Grasping a string between tiny fingers and threading the end through the holes in a lacing card is great fine motor practice for preschoolers. It also begins to build muscle memory for holding a pencil properly.

17. Buttons

Source: Learning4Kids

Preschoolers will have so much fun creating patterns, swirls, squiggles, and zig-zags with colorful buttons. And they'll be building skills while they're at it!

18. Sticker Line Up

Source: Busy Toddler

Preschoolers need to use a pinching motion, which builds fine motor skills, to peel sticker dots off the page. Then, they use hand-eye coordination to place each sticker on the drawn line. This activity would be perfect for a writing or free time station.

19. Fingerprint Writing

Source: Happy Toddler Playtime

Some kids may not like to get their fingers this messy, but others will adore it! For this activity, you will need poster paper and a palette of washable ink. Draw letters, shapes, and lines on a clean piece of paper. Then, show kids how to dip their pointer finger onto the ink pad, then follow the lines dot by dot.

20. Clothespin Clipping

Source: Teaching Mama

Using a clothespin takes a lot of grip strength. This image shows a student using a clothespin to choose the correct answer to a number problem, but any activity that involves clipping will help them build the fine motor skills required for writing.

21. Cutting

Source: Play of the Wild

Cutting and snipping activities with scissors are excellent ways for children to practice fine motor skills and control. Give your students lots of opportunities to practice their cutting skills with paper, string, card stock, even Play-Doh!

22. Scrunching Paper

Source: Gympanzees

Scrunching paper into a ball is great for building hand strength. Let your students use computer paper, newspaper, tissue paper, or wrapping paper. Then play a game of paper ball tag!

What are your favorite pre-writing activities for preschoolers? Share in the comments below.

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22 Pre-Writing Activities for Preschoolers

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Use these pre-writing activities for preschoolers to help your students develop the fine motor skills they'll need to write.

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This pre-writing skills resource is a resource for anyone working with preschoolers. The fact is that in the preschool years, developmentally, preschoolers should not be writing. Rather, pre-writing is the area of focus. A huge topic of discussion for pediatric occupational therapy professionals is the fact that preschool pre-writing skills are developed rather than introducing handwriting at this young age. Developmentally, there is a lot of progression in the preschool years and pre-writing skills are just one of the many areas. Our resource on fine motor activities for preschoolers covers more on these areas. Refer to more information on preschool activities for other developmentally appropriate activities.

Pre writing Skills in Preschool

Many times, parents of very young children don't think about handwriting skills. It's not typical to think about holding a pencil, writing words and sentences, and copying letters when children are just mastering building with blocks, learning to pull on socks, and creating finger paint masterpieces.

But the truth is, when young preschoolers are playing, they are building the very important precursors to handwriting.

The skills needed for managing a pencil, copying letter forms, and managing pencil control when copying lists and paragraphs into a space on a page are initiated in the early childhood years. Below, you'll find more about preschool pre-writing skills and the components of pre-writing skills that are developed through play.

Related, is this blog post on friendship activities for preschoolers.

What are Pre-Writing Skills?

Preschool is prime time to develop the underlying skills needed for handwriting. So often, the older, school-aged kids that are struggling with handwriting are missing the underlying areas that make up the skills of handwriting.

First, it's important to recognize that handwriting is made up of so many areas. Handwriting is much more than holding a pencil (pencil grasp) and forming letters and numbers!

There are many pre-writing skills that transfer to accuracy in written work. These areas need to be developed and refined before handwriting can be successful. These skills are pre-requisites to even holding a pencil to form shapes and then letters.

Consider the following skill areas that relate to handwriting:

1. Sensory Motor Pre-writing skills

2. Fine motor pre-writing skills

3. Visual-motor pre-writing skills

Let's go into each area separately.

Sensory-Motor Pre-Writing Skills- The sensory motor component is closely related. Consider the pyramid of learning and the developmental base that enables refinement in higher levels of development. The closely related areas of sensory and motor skills are pre-requisites for pre-writing before copying lines and shapes is even possible.

Gross motor development

Motor planning

Initial core control and core body strength

Bilateral arm and hand use

Crossing midline

Imitation of movements

Ability to learn novel motor movements

Tactile sensory awareness

Discrimination of sensation

Fine Motor Pre-Writing Skills- From holding the pencil to moving and controlling the pencil when writing letter forms, handwriting requires a variety of motor movements that all must work together.

These fine motor pre writing areas of development include:

Hand dominance

Pinch precision (using a tip to tip grasp)

Finger opposition

Finger isolation

Separation of the sides of the hand

Hand strength (endurance in play)

Fine motor development

Separation of the two sides of the hand, including:

Development and control of the skilled side of the hand

Development and control of the strength side of the hand stable side of the hand

Thumb Isolation and use as a stability point

Thumb dexterity and strength

Finger Isolation

Development of a dominant hand and an assisting hand

Manipulation of objects and dexterity of the hand with objects

Grasp strength

Note that preschool can begin as early as 2 years old with some preschool classes. There is a big difference in development from the 2-5 year range in all areas, including fine motor development. A young 2 year old will developmentally have more primitive fine motor skills than a 5 year old child.

Young preschoolers will develop precision and refinement of fine motor skills through play.

Visual Processing Pre-Writing Skills- Additionally, there are the eyes. What is seen and recognized needs to be coordinated with the hand. Visual processing has a huge component in written work!

During the preschool years, visual processing skills are developed through play. These components include:

Cognitive Pre-Writing Skills- In addition to the motor components are the cognitive skills. These include the ability to follow directions, pay attention, and focus. The cognitive areas are closely related to the motor skill prerequisites.

Direction following

Attention and focus

Directional concepts

Memory

Sequencing

Awareness of left-right concepts in books and written work

When Preschoolers are asked to write letters

When young children are asked to write, trace, or copy letters before these skills are developed, bad habits can form. In these cases, you'll notice that older students tend to have difficulty with handwriting.

There are many things happening all at once that develop poor motor plans and bad habits. Because preschoolers are not developmentally ready to write with a pencil, you may see these issues:

1. Immature grasp on the pencil/writing utensil

2. Inability to form diagonal lines

3. Forms letters from bottom to top

4. Forms letter segmentally and inappropriately

5. Weak grasp on the writing utensil

6. Inconsistent hand use

7. Weak pinch and base of support on the pinky side of the hand

8. Poor posture

9. Inattention

10. Difficulty identifying letters and copying complete parts

11. Many other issues!

These mentioned issues with starting handwriting in preschool is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to introducing letter formation before kids are developmentally ready.

We have put this information into a video to further explain what happens when preschoolers are taught to write letters or write their name before they are developmentally ready. If you would like to view this video on YouTube, check it out on The OT Toolbox YouTube channel.

Pre-Writing Lines in Preschool

It is very important to mention pre-writing lines. These are the pencil strokes that precede formation of letters. Here are some resources you'll want to read over and utilize in this important step in preschool development:

1. We cover a great deal about pre-writing lines here.

2. Use this pre-writing lines activity to work on this essential step.

3. Consider this pre-writing lines slide deck when working with preschoolers in a virtual setting.

4. Read about the developmental progression of pre-writing lines.

5. Use this pre-writing leaf activity to work on the development of underlying skills as well as pre-writing line formation.

6. Use these handwriting activities to work on pre-writing skill development.

If any of these areas might be an issue for your child with handwriting troubles, consider grabbing The Handwriting Book as a resource that covers all of the underlying skill areas related to handwriting.

So how are all of these areas addressed as a pre-writing skill in preschool?

The answer is through play!

Can you believe that all of these areas are being addressed htrough play in the early childhood development stages? And that all of these areas are building and developing with a resulting use in handwriting? Amazing, right?

Stop by later this week to find out easy ways to encourage development of the above skill areas in group settings in the preschool environment. It can be difficult to address the needs of a preschool class when there are 16 four year olds that need reining in. I'll have easy ways to encourage development of fine motor skills, visual motor skills, and attention skills in fun and creative ways...coming soon!

BUY The Handwriting Book NOW

Want to know more about The Handwriting Book? Click on the image above to find out how to address every underlying area related to handwriting skills. Click here to BUY NOW.

Working on fine motor skills, visual perception, visual motor skills, sensory tolerance, handwriting, or scissor skills? Our Fine Motor Kits cover all of these areas and more.
Check out the seasonal Fine Motor Kits that kids love:

Or, grab one of our themed Fine Motor Kits to target skills with fun themes:
Want access to all of these kits...and more being added each month? Join The OT Toolbox Member's Club!

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This resource breaks down preschool pre-writing skills that are need to be developed before handwriting is successful.

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13 Best Gross Motor Activities for Preschoolers to Try Today

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Explore top gross motor activities for preschoolers that boost physical development and provide endless fun. Start playing today!

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25 + Gross Motor Activities for Preschoolers 

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25 + Gross Motor Activities for Preschoolers 

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Gross Motor Activities For Preschoolers: 25+ Quick and Easy

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Promote gross motor skills with 25+ easy and fun gross motor activities for preschoolers and toddlers. Let’s get your kids moving!

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30 Gross Motor Skills Activities for Preschoolers 

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30 Gross Motor Skills Activities for Preschoolers 

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Little kids can develop their gross motor skills through a variety of fun activities. Active play that uses the large muscles of the legs, arms, and trunk is important for your preschooler's health and physical development. In fact, learning to harness the power of their muscles to run, jump, throw, catch, and kick is vital to the growth of their bodies and brains. Plus, it's a lot of fun.

Read on for our list of great gross motor skill activities for preschoolers to inspire active fun for the whole family.

Indoor Gross Motor Activities for Preschoolers

Muscle-moving play doesn't have to take up a ton of room. With just a little floor space, your preschooler can enjoy these gross motor skill-building activities inside:

Playing The Floor Is Lava

Create obstacle courses with furniture, pillows, boxes, and blankets, and have your kids find their way through. Make it even more interesting by playing "The Floor Is Lava."

Kids can freestyle or follow songs with movements, such as "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," "I'm a Little Teapot," "The Wheels on the Bus," or "Popcorn."

Target hopping

Can you hop like a bunny? Set up targets with masking tape or cardboard to make jumping from place to place on the floor more fun.

Large-scale arts and crafts

Large crafting projects can stimulate both gross motor skills and creativity. Break out the art supplies and help your preschooler turn that old cardboard box into a rocket ship or boat.

Playing pretend

Kids boost gross motor skills when they use their bodies to become waddling ducks, stiff-legged robots, galloping horses, soaring planes, or any other creature they can imagine. Want to really get them moving? Play a game where you walk like an animal together and have them try to move like all different types of animals.

Pulling and pushing large toys

Playing with wagons, large trucks, doll strollers, or shopping carts helps develop upper-body strength and coordination.

Playing flashlight tag

Turn off the lights and break out the flashlights. The person who is "it" in holds the flashlight and attempts to "tag" everyone else with their beam of light. Play until everyone is tagged out and then pick a new person to be "it."

Kid-friendly yoga

Yoga isn't just for grownups. Your preschooler will love getting into funky positions while learning the names of each one. And falling over is part of the fun.

Throwing paper planes

Help your preschooler make and decorate a paper plane and then use their arm muscles to see how far they can throw it.

Puzzle hunt

Hide pieces of a favorite puzzle around the house and have your kids look for the pieces as they put them together.

Tip

Outdoor Gross Motor Activities for Preschoolers

Kids have plenty of room outside to play hard and challenge their growing muscles, and in fact, even so-called rough and tumble play practiced in a supportive and safe environment can help kids regulate big emotions and learn to socialize. Help get their imaginations working by suggesting activities and games such as:

Doing balance practice

Have your child walk on a low beam or plank at the playground or a homemade balance beam.

Navigating an obstacle course

Set up outdoor obstacle courses with rocks, logs, or playground equipment that require your preschooler to climb, stretch, and reach.

Using ride-on toys

Encourage your child to play with tricycles, scooters, and other ride-on toys that require them to use their muscles.

Engaging in water play

Most kids love water play of all kinds, from swimming to playing with water squirters or sprinklers.

Playing at the playground

Playgrounds offer ample opportunities for kids to pump their legs on a swing, shoot down a slide, climb ladders, and run freely.

Going on a walk or hike

Take a walk around the neighborhood or a park. Pump up the fun and bring simple instruments to form a musical parade. As you walk, tell stories, look for colors, count, or play games.

Playing catch

Provide large, soft balls for throwing, catching, kicking, and rolling.

Doing a silly scavenger hunt

Set up a scavenger hunt but with one rule-no walking! Instead, kids can get from place to place to gather their items by marching, skipping, jogging, dancing, hopping, crawling, or even tip-toeing.

Having a weed-picking competition

Garden beds full of weeds? Help your preschooler identify the weeds, set a timer, and see who can pick the most before the timer goes off!

Giving the hula hoop a try

Older preschoolers are right around the age where they can start getting the hang of a large hula hoop. Even if they can't quite keep it going, hula hoops make for lots of active fun for kids with a little creativity.

Gross Motor Skills Games for Preschoolers

Some activities for developing gross motor skills work best outside, while others can be done indoors. But some of the best ways to motivate major movement in preschoolers is to get to play a game. Give one of these indoor and outdoor games a try:

Hit the target

Use hula hoops or sidewalk chalk to designate targets on the ground, then have kids throw bean bags or balls (even snowballs) at the targets.

Jump the brook

Set out two jump ropes or draw two chalk lines representing the brook, and have kids try to jump over them. For a few levels of challenge, try making it wider in some spots and narrower in others. Or try having them jump with two feet and then with just one.

Paper plate skate race

Use paper plates to glide along the carpet. Try to imitate speed skaters, hockey players, or figure skaters and have a competition or race.

Paper ball soccer

Instead of playing a real game, just let your kid enjoy kicking the ball and aiming it toward a goal, large cardboard box, or laundry basket turned on its side. For an extra challenge, try using use crumpled paper instead of balls.

There are so many great variations on hopscotch, this classic outdoor game, and between drawing the court, throwing the rock, and hopping and jumping, your preschooler will love this gross motor skill activity.

Teach little ones simple ways to play tag or other classic games such as "Follow the Leader," "Mother May I," and "Simon Says."

See how far your preschooler can bend to get under the broomstick. Change it up by going reserving the game, and having them jump over the stick starting on the ground and moving it up bit by bit.

Another classic childhood game Twister, and you can play even if you don't have the traditional board. Try creating your own board by drawing circles with sidewalk chalk.

Fans of the show Bluey will be familiar with the name of this balloon game, but just about all of us played it as kids. Fill a balloon with air or use an old, deflating helium-filled balloon from your last party. The rule: The balloon can't touch the ground. Keep the balloon up in the air using any part of your body.

Freeze dance

Your preschooler will love this movement-based game. Stream a fun freeze dance song and get everyone involved or go old-school and have someone responsible for pausing the music to make everyone freeze.

Tip

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