As teacher who works with preschoolers, it can sometimes be challenging to incorporate gross motor activities into every day play, especially in cold weather months. Have you ever considered yoga? We have some suggestions for some gross motor activities for preschoolers that will get the ball rolling (so to speak!)

Most people associate yoga with being calm and serene. And while yoga can absolutely be a great way to wind down and de-stress, it can also be quite active. Incorporating gross motor activities into your preschool class is a great way to get the kids moving while still providing all the benefits of yoga, such as improved focus and concentration, increased flexibility, and reduced stress levels.

3 Ideas for Gross Motor Activities in Preschool Yoga

1. Animal Walks: Have the kids walk around the room like various animals. You can incorporate this into a game of Simon Says or just let them roam freely. Some ideas for animal walks include walking like a crab, bear, lion, bunny, or elephant.

2. Partner Poses: Kids love working together and using their imaginations. Partner poses are perfect for preschoolers because they encourage cooperation while still getting them moving. Try some partner poses such as Downward Dog (one person is in downward dog position while the other walks under), Camel Pose (one person is in camel pose while the other gives them a back massage), or Boat Pose (one person is in boat pose while the other pretends to row).

3. Obstacle Course: Set up an obstacle course using things you have around the room or outside. It can be as simple or complex as you want—just make sure it’s safe! The obstacle course can include things like crawling under a table, balance on one foot for 10 seconds, pretend to jump over a puddle, etc. Get creative and have fun! There are so many products now available like parachutes, tunnels, and large blocks for your obstacle course.

The tunnel (seen above) is actually a tunnel for pets. I have purchased several over the years because I like that they are so much longer than most of the tunnels “for kids”. I also like that this one comes with the sandbags that help keep the tunnel in place, which is perfect when kids are bellycrawling through the tunnel quickly). Bellycrawling provides lots of sensory input for those kiddos that are high energy.

Shop our TpT store for our Introduction to Yogalore Yoga Pose Card Set and MANY other themed sets of yoga pose cards and activities for children.