Games Developing Gross Motor Skills
• Squirrels and Bears
The game develops attention span and speed of movement and it game is played in a group (children 4–6 years). The children stand one behind another in a line. When the command “squirrels” is given, they begin to jump with their legs put together. When the command “bears” is given, they bend, hold their knees with their hands and slowly step forward. Sometimes misleading elements can be brought in, so that the game gets fun and the children can train their attention. For example, showing the jumps when the command “bears” is given. Children should be careful and execute only the command they can hear, not the one they can see.
• House
The game develops flexibility of movements and it is suitable for morning gymnastics or for the children (3–6 years) to get some exercise. All of them first squat and then gradually stand while showing the movements:
Brick by brick (On each word, one palm is placed above the other)
we built a house.
Thiiiiis wide (arms are stretched sideways)
Thiiiiis high (arms are stretched upwards)
What about the chimney? What about the chimney? (Hands on the waist, looking around)
Take more bricks (Leaning against the floor, hands touching the floor)
and build a chimney! (Jump up with arms high in the air)
• Fisherman and Fish
This game develops dexterity and speed of movements. Two children (4–6 years) –are chosen to be the fishermen and they hold hands. All the “fish” (the other participants) swim freely in the “sea” (Pre-defined field of play). The fishermen strive to catch the fleeing fish. Everybody who gets caught becomes a fisherman and holds onto one of the sides of the constantly growing “net”. The game continues until all the “fish” have been caught. If someone leaves the field, this is taken as if they had been caught. If a player is touched when the net is torn, they are not considered to have been caught.