May 2, 2025

6 ways to encourage physical development in preschoolers

Has your child just moved from toddling to running? Has he/she gone from grasping spoons to writing his/her name? 

This is a wonderful point in every child’s development, when both gross and fine motor skills go to the next level. You can even encourage this development in certain ways as a parent. 

If you want ideas for that, read on. We’ve compiled a list of activities you can try to support your child’s continued physical growth, whether through play or simple daily activities!

1. Gross motor activities

Gross motor skills are movements that involve large muscle groups. Think of skills like walking or jumping, for example. 

Skills like these are closely tied to strength and coordination. Here’s how you can build those for your child:

• 18 months to 3 years – Introduce activities like climbing and dancing to your child. For the former, stick to low structures for now to be safe. Other ideas include light obstacle courses. Toddlers love crawling through pillow tunnels or stepping over cushion barriers, for example. You can make a game of it too!
• 3 to 6 years – For older preschoolers, try running games like tag or hopscotch. You can even prepare them for bicycling with the classic tricycle! Games that involve catching and throwing balls are good for developing hand-eye coordination too.

2. Activities for fine motor development

Fine motor skills are all about small muscle movements requiring precision and control. Here are some activities to develop fine motor skills:

• 18 months to 3 years – Activities like stacking blocks, finger painting, or even turning pages in interactive books are great starts for toddlers. You can also try teaching your child to start eating on his/her own now. It also boosts independence!
• 3 to 6 years – Older children can move up to cutting paper (but use child-safe scissors) or working on crafts like sculpting with clay. These activities are designed to refine dexterity while sparking creativity.

3. Music, movement, and games

Musical activities are wonderful opportunities for combining entertainment with development. Activities like these can also boost rhythm and coordination:

• All ages – Dancing! Preschoolers of virtually any age can participate in this particular activity and often enjoy it. Try classics like Head, shoulders, knees and toes. Or try games like Simon Says! You can even incorporate storytelling into it. At My Little Campus, for example, we combine interaction with storytelling to encourage motor development while lighting a fire in children’s imaginations.
  

4. Everyday tasks

Even daily household tasks can double as opportunities for physical development. Try these particular ones, depending on how old your child is:

• 18 months to 3 years – Ask younger children to help sort toys, carry small items like fruit, or even pour water into cups. It can help improve their hand control.
• 3 to 6 years – Older children can help with some child-safe kitchen tools to prepare meals. You can ask them to set the table, for example. This builds fine motor skills while also teaching them the idea of responsibility. We do this in My Little Campus: show preschoolers how to feed themselves, set tables themselves, and so on.

5. Outdoor exploration

The outdoors can be marvellous for physical development activities for preschoolers. Parks and playgrounds offer many chances for a child to build up core skills:

• 18 months to 3 years – Invite your little one to walk on grass or sand that’s free of clutter or sharp objects. It’s a great way to challenge and train a child’s stability in a safe environment.
• 3 to 6 years – Go on nature trails! Children love to explore the outdoors, especially if they’re interested in nature or animals. You can also try to encourage your child to participate in group sports.

6. Structured sports or classes

Even for toddlers, there are already opportunities for structured sports lessons. Consider enrolling your child in age-appropriate sports classes or teaching your child yourself!

• 18 months to 3 years – Parent-child gym classes can focus on basic movement patterns. Even activities as simple as rolling or jumping offer a good start for further development. 
• 3 to 6 years – Consider introducing your child to team sports, perhaps with the help of family members. This is a great way to build up motor skills while also strengthening your child’s teamwork abilities. 

Let your child develop motor skills with our help 

The activities we’ve suggested are excellent for physical development in many ways. They support coordination and balance, motor skill development, increased flexibility, and more.

At My Little Campus, we’ve found that incorporating such activities into children’s daily schedules yields the best rewards. We do it through both responsibilities and play. 

This sustains the developmental benefits and also helps children get accustomed to being active daily instead of in occasional spurts. 

If you want to learn about how we achieve that in our comprehensive daily schedule, please reach out to us. We’ll be more than happy to outline the ways we can support your child’s development.