Running, Jumping, Climbing, Swinging and Lifting. Gross Motor Skills, Why are they important?

If you’ve ever watched your toddler climb on the sofa instead of sitting nicely on it, or if your little one insists on jumping, spinning, and dancing instead of staying still, you’re not alone. And honestly? It’s a good thing!! 

As a parent, I totally get the messy, noisy, non stop chaos of life with little ones. I know how worrying or stressful it can be to see your child flinging themselves around and taking risks. As an early years provider and phonics specialist, I also know just how vital all that movement is, especially those big, whole body movements we call gross motor skills.

Panda's Play Session Gross Motor Area

What Are Gross Motor Skills?

Gross motor skills are the big movements that use large muscle groups, things like running, jumping, climbing, swinging, and dancing. Even carrying heavy things! They are vital for physical development, cognitive function and developing social interaction too. They are needed for children to develop confidence, take risks safely and become independent in things like climbing the stairs and dressing themselves.

And while they might not seem linked to writing or reading, they actually play a huge role in early development. In fact, fine motor skills (like holding a pencil) depend on strong gross motor foundations. Without that core strength and body control, tasks like writing can be much harder for little hands.

Real-Life Example: Swinging, Stepping & Dancing at Home

At home, my son has been swinging from his big sister’s gymnastics bar since he was tiny. What might look like wild play is actually amazing for building upper body strength, balance and coordination, grip and arm control and even posture for sitting and focusing.

We also love turning our garden into an adventure zone with stepping stones and obstacle courses, exploring hopping, tiptoeing, stretching, and balancing from one to the next. Chunky chalks are a fun way of encouraging this movement from hopscotch to popping the bubbles to the floor is lava. Why not bring the adventure to life with an imaginary story, go to the giants castle in the clouds or ride on a unicorn to a magical land. Creating a story as you are exploring different movements adds excitement but also develops those creative skills. My two are always pretending they’re off on holiday, running to the airport, flying off in the plane and carrying the heavy bags- all great for gross motor! 

And inside? We’re all about kitchen discos! Dancing to our favourite songs builds rhythm, listening skills, cross-body coordination, and auditory memory — all essential for later phonics and reading development. We also love DannyGo on YouTube. I’ve used his videos in school for brain breaks but my two at home absolutely love him too! He has so many different themed dance videos that aim to develop balance, coordination, control, memory and much more.

My kids also love to help bring the shopping in, especially the heavy stuff, and this is something I always encourage (with the safe stuff of course!). I remember my son carrying two 4 pints of milk when he was only just 2, I don't know how he didn't topple over!

Pop the bubbles with chunky chalks

Why This Matters for Writing & Reading

Gross motor skills can:

•Builds core strength for sitting up and focusing

•Develops hand-eye coordination for writing

•Supports fine motor control through whole-body stability

• Encourages left-right brain connections for phonics and reading Enhances confidence, attention, and body awareness

Easy Ways to Support Gross Motor Skills at Home

You don’t need fancy equipment to help your child build these skills. Try:

• Kitchen dance parties (go wild!)..

• Cushion stepping stones or homemade obstacle courses, so much fun and anything goes! 

• Movement adventures (pretend play + big movements).. 

• Swinging, climbing, and playing outdoors as much as possible. Outside play is vital for those big movements, take a trip to the park, run around, explore different ways of travelling on the school run. 

• Nursery rhymes with actions.... developing those gross motor skills and including all the nursery rhyme goodness too (see previous blog!)

Gross motor development isn’t just about letting off steam, it’s the foundation for so many crucial early skills. So the next time your little one is bouncing off the walls (literally), remember: they’re not just playing , they’re learning.

At Panda’s Play, we celebrate every jump, climb, and wiggle because it’s all part of growing confident, coordinated, and curious learners.

Let them swing, step, and spin because their brains and bodies will thank you later! 

Want more early years tips and playful learning ideas? Follow Panda’s Play on social media or pop along to one of our friendly play sessions