Why Gross Motor Skills Matter

This week at Sunny Days, we’ve been on the move — stretching, climbing, splashing, and swinging our way to stronger bodies and sharper minds!

Gross motor skills are the big movements that use the larger muscles in our arms, legs, torso, and feet. They’re essential for everyday actions like crawling, walking, running, jumping, climbing, and throwing. But did you know these skills also lay the foundation for finer tasks like holding a pencil, cutting with scissors, or buttoning a coat? Before children can master those more precise movements, they need to develop their strength, balance, and coordination — and that starts with gross motor play.

That’s where Forest School comes in. The outdoor environment naturally invites children to challenge their bodies in new ways. This week, alongside our usual woodland adventures, we’ve focused on developing those all-important large muscle groups. The children have been kicking footballs on the field, navigating obstacle courses, and practising under- and over-arm throws using balls and beanbags to hit targets. Of course, our forest wouldn’t be complete without a bit of climbing — and our tree-climbing sessions have been as popular as ever.

One of the highlights of the week was a new addition to our woodland setup — Ginnie created a swing in the woods, and it’s safe to say the children absolutely loved it. The swinging not only brought lots of laughter and joy but also gave the children a chance to build core strength, coordination, and spatial awareness. It was such a hit that we’ll definitely be doing it again!

Even our creative activities have taken a physical twist. Instead of sitting at a table with small paintbrushes, the children painted large cardboard boxes and even used water to ‘paint’ the bricks outside. These activities got them stretching, reaching, and using their core muscles — all while having fun and expressing themselves.

And let’s not forget the water play! The warm weather brought endless opportunities for splashing, pouring, and experimenting with our guttering system. The children explored how to move water from one place to another, testing ideas and building teamwork — and getting wonderfully wet in the process.

All of these experiences aren’t just great fun — they’re essential for physical development and learning. By strengthening their gross motor skills in an open, natural environment, children are building the confidence and ability they need to take on everyday tasks and future learning challenges.

So next time you see your child climbing a tree, hauling a bucket of water, or swinging on branches, know they’re not just playing — they’re building the muscles and coordination they need to thrive.