6 Easy, Fun and Effective Gross Motor Activities for Preschoolers with Autism, APD or ADHD

Gross motor skills are physical abilities that involve large muscle groups. These skills help children move their bodies efficiently and coordinate their movements. Examples include walking, running, jumping, climbing, and throwing.

Gross motor activities for preschoolers are a fun and effective way of developing these skills and giving your child a strong foundation for their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional well-being.

If your child has autism, auditory processing disorder (APD), or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) it’s possible that it will take longer for them to develop these skills compared to their peers [1].

There are lots of different gross motor activities you can do with your child. This article brings you some of our favorites from the Soundsory® library.

To help you we’ve provided a description of the exercise, as well as ways you can modify it or simplify it to suit your child’s needs.

There are advantages to doing exercises both indoors and outdoors, which we’ll explain to you as we go.

Why are they important for preschoolers?

• Physical development: Gross motor skills help children develop strong muscles and bones.
• Cognitive development: They contribute to spatial awareness, balance, and coordination.
• Social development: These skills are essential for playing with others and participating in group activities.
• Emotional development: Mastering gross motor skills can boost a child’s self-esteem and confidence.

The pioneering Soundsory® program is the perfect companion for all the exercises you’ll read about in this article.

Indoor Gross Motor Activities for Preschoolers with Autism, APD, and ADHD 

Indoor activities may work better for children with sensory sensitivities. It’s believed that up to 70% of children with autism have decreased sound tolerance [2]. Here, you can reduce the level of sensory stimulation and distractions, and you have complete control of the environment.

Exercise	Description	Benefits	Items/Equipment Needed
Body Rubs	Original: Ask your child to rub their own body parts. For example, to use their right hand to rub their left arm from shoulder to fingertip. Repeat and cover the torso and all four limbs.	This activity helps by preparing your child’s sensory system ready for movement. The rubbing movements provide a graded stimulation to ‘switch on’ their body.	None. But you could use items with different textures: a fluffy toy, a smooth silky sheet, a tickly feather. Be creative.
	Modified: You could increase the challenge by using the rubbing as part of a game of Simon Says.	This demands more focus and increases body awareness for your child. It’s also a great auditory processing activity.
	Simplified: You could place your hand over your child’s and guide their hand to do the stroking motion.	Name the body part you are touching when doing this to increase body awareness.
Slow Walking	Original: Ask your child to walk as slowly as possible or even tip toe around the room.	Slow, mindful movements are effective at managing some of the symptoms of ADHD. [3]	A music player. You can choose slow, relaxing music to guide the pace of the movements. [4]
	Modified: Ask your child to move slowly but on all fours.	This adds an extra upper body and core challenge to the activity.
	Simplified: Your child can stand or sit still – ask them to move only their arms or legs as slowly as they can.	This reduces the challenge on balance and stability but still works on controlled movements.
Obstacle Course	Original: Create a simple obstacle course with a clear start/finish. Ask your child to complete it as quickly as possible and challenge them to improve their times.	Strength, agility, and focus on a task. It’s great for improving balance. This is a kids’ favorite.	Anything you want! Be creative but remember to keep it safe. Soft toys, pillows, cardboard boxes… whatever you want.
	Modified: Challenge your child by asking them to complete the course on all fours, or only by jumping with both feet. You could also make the course harder by adding in ‘bridges’ for them to crawl under.	Changing postures and types of movement creates an extra skill challenge.
	Simplified: Your course could be a straight line or use fewer objects. You could hold your child’s hands to assist them.	This is still a really rewarding challenge even if your child needs some assistance.	A reward!

Here are the videos to accompany the indoor gross motor activities above.

Body Rubs

Slow Walking (Simplified)

Outdoor Gross Motor Activities for Sensory and Attention Regulation 

Outdoor activities give your child the chance to experience different sensations which can help keep the activities fun and interesting. Children with autism, APD, or ADHD may thrive when playing in non-traditional ways [5] so don’t be afraid to experiment when finding what works best for them.

Remember, you are responsible for choosing a place that is safe and clean for your child to perform these activities.

Exercise	Description	Benefits	Items/Equipment needed
Supermans	Original: Ask your child to lay on their front and lift their head and arms to look forwards.	Challenges core and shoulder strength. It gives your child a different way of interacting with their environment. Opportunity to use a range of sensory cues to engage your child.	Take the fun outdoors! Use a blanket or mat. You may also need a cushion to give your child a chance to rest their head. You could place your child in front of a sandpit or some grass or leaves for them to interact with.
	Modified: Ask your child to raise their feet as well as their head and arms.	This will add a greater challenge to their core and all four limbs.
	Simplified: Position your child on their tummy but allow them to rest on their elbows. Allow plenty of rest.	By being on their front you’re giving your child the chance to strengthen their posterior chain. These are the muscles responsible for helping us stand upright and extend.
Hopscotch	Original: Draw a grid on the floor in chalk. Ask your child to throw an item into one of the boxes. They must hop or jump between the boxes to retrieve the item.	Hopscotch is fun and helps balance, coordination and concentration. It’s great for social interaction as well as being a wonderful gross motor activity.	Sidewalk chalk and a small object. This can be a stone or anything of your child’s choosing if it’s safe to use and won’t break.
	Modified: Increase the challenge by drawing a bigger grid or asking your child to only hop.
	Simplified: Your child can step between the boxes or maybe jump while holding your hands.	Your child will still get all the benefits mentioned above. You can increase the challenge when they’re ready.
Bear Crawls	Original: Ask your child to take position on their hands and feet. Get them to crawl like a bear.	Great for coordination, gross motor strength and overall fitness.	No equipment needed.
	Modified: Consider doing this in an outdoor space like clean grass or a beach for different stimulation.	Doing this on an uneven surface creates a greater challenge to strength and balance. The different textures also add an extra sensory element.	This one’s all about the environment. Try to find a place that’s safe, clean and interesting for your child.
	Simplified: Ask your child to stomp like a dinosaur along the path.	This removes the upper limbs from the exercise but it’s still great for gross motor development. And it’s fun!	No equipment needed.

Here are the three videos to accompany the outdoor gross motor activities above.

Superman

Hopscotch

Bear Crawls

Addressing Sensory Processing Challenges in Preschoolers During Gross Motor Activities

Children with autism, APD or ADHD commonly face challenges due to sensory processing difficulties. Research suggests it’s because many children in this group may have an enhanced capacity to process sounds [6]. This can lead to them finding normal noises overstimulating. 

No one knows your child better than you so the first thing to remember is to watch for the signs of sensory overload.

These include:

·   Hand-flapping

·   Jumping

·   Covering ears

·   Non-compliance

Here are some tips on how to manage sensory overload:

·   Anticipate needs instead of reacting

·   Learn your child’s preference – types of games, favorite items and so on.

·   Controlling the environment – some children will need a calm space with no clutter or distraction.

·   Consider group or solo – some children respond well with groups to help model their behavior, whilst others do better on their own.

·   Remain calm – your child will respond to you and your behavior.

·   Experiment with equipment or aids – noise-canceling headphones can help with auditory problems, and a weighted blanket can help calm tactile problems.

·   Work with your specialists – pediatric specialists can suggest a wide range of strategies for sensory overload

·   Try Soundsory® – the unique blend of movement and music created by experts working with children with autism, APD and ADHD.

FAQs : Best Gross Motor Activities for Preschoolers with Autism, APD or ADHD

What are the gross motor activities for 4-year-olds?

Our favorite gross motor activities for preschoolers with autism, APD, or ADHD are:

·   Body Rubs

·   Slow Walking

·   Obstacle Courses

·   Supermans

·   Hopscotch

·   Bear crawls

These can be done indoors and outdoors depending on what works best for you and your child. We also recommend checking out our comprehensive FREE guide to Occupational Therapy activities for children.

What is the gross motor program for preschoolers?

There is no one single program for gross motor skills for preschoolers. However, research strongly recommends following a defined course of activity that is achievable and progressive [7].

As every child is different this program should be created with the skills and knowledge of a pediatric therapist or specialist.

If your child isn’t preschool age, then head to our other great guide on gross motor skills activities for kids.

The Soundsory® program can work alongside your existing approach to optimize your child’s neurodevelopment.

What are the gross motor skills of a 3–4-year-old?

Here are some typical gross motor skills milestones that you might expect to see in a 3-4-year-old:

• Walking and running: Children at this age should be able to walk steadily and run with increasing speed and coordination.
• Jumping: They should be able to jump up and down, as well as jump over objects.
• Climbing: Children should be able to climb up and down stairs with a railing and climb on playground equipment.
• Throwing and catching: They should be able to throw and catch a ball with increasing accuracy.
• Riding a tricycle: Many 3-4-year-olds can ride a tricycle.
• Balancing: They should be able to balance on one foot for a short period of time and walk along a line.

Remember that every child develops at their own pace, so these are general guidelines. If you have any concerns about your child’s development, please consult with your pediatrician.

References

1.      Wilson, R. B., Enticott, P. G., & Rinehart, N. J. (2018). Motor development and delay: advances in assessment of motor skills in autism spectrum disorders. Current opinion in neurology, 31(2), 134–139. https://doi.org/10.1097/WCO.0000000000000541
2.     Williams, Z. J., He, J. L., Cascio, C. J., & Woynaroski, T. G. (2021). A review of decreased sound tolerance in autism: Definitions, phenomenology, and potential mechanisms. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 121, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.030
3.     Clark, D., Seymour, K. E., Findling, R. L., & Mostofsky, S. H. (2020). Subtle Motor Signs as a Biomarker for Mindful Movement Intervention in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP, 41(5), 349–358. https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000000795
4.    Sharda, M., Tuerk, C., Chowdhury, R., Jamey, K., Foster, N., Custo-Blanch, M., Tan, M., Nadig, A., & Hyde, K. (2018). Music improves social communication and auditory-motor connectivity in children with autism. Translational psychiatry, 8(1), 231. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-018-0287-3
5.    Abu Itham, M., Kerpan, S., Balogh, R., & Lloyd, M. (2023). Parent Descriptions of the Active Play Behaviors of Their Twins and Triplets With Autism. Adapted physical activity quarterly : APAQ, 40(4), 739–757. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2022-0171
6.    Remington, A., & Fairnie, J. (2017). A sound advantage: Increased auditory capacity in autism. Cognition, 166, 459–465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2017.04.002
7.     Ruiz-Esteban, C., Terry Andrés, J., Méndez, I., & Morales, Á. (2020). Analysis of Motor Intervention Program on the Development of Gross Motor Skills in Preschoolers. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(13), 4891. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17134891