Gross motor skills are such an important part of the healthy development and children of all ages. In fact, gross motor activities not only get the kids moving and active and allow them to release much needed energy, they also are responsible for helping children regulate their sensory needs.

Animal walks are simple and fun exercises that anyone can do to get a quick dose of gross motor play in their day. Simply put, they are exercises that resemble the animals they are named for. Some of the animals walks we do have classic instructions that are known throughout early childhood and physical development experts, such as the crab walk, bear walk and frog jumps.

However, the fun doesn’t have to stop with the classics. Animal walks can resemble any animal and are a great way to encourage creativity while developing the important gross motor skills and providing sensory input.

This is a fun activity for a nice day! Kids love to do things they see grown ups do and the clean toys are a nice side effect!