There’s nothing like an Easter egg hunt with a big group of kids. They love to scramble through the yard, finding the colorful hidden gems and trying to be the first to fill their basket! Here’s a twist on the traditional egg hunt that targets motor control, motor planning and the all-important skill of kicking. An Easter gross motor activity like this one is the perfect way to get kids outside on a pretty spring day!
Looking for another fun Easter themed activity? Try these frozen fizzy Easter eggs!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED: A hula hoop for each child, several inflated balloons
WHAT TO DO: In this game, the hula hoop is the Easter basket! Scatter the hoops and balloons around the yard. The object is to get as many eggs (balloons) into your baskets (hoop) as possible using only your feet! Encourage your child to use only the inside of their foot for better control (just like in soccer). Here is the twist. If they break their egg (pop their balloon) as they are trying to get it into their basket, they have to run to the Easter Bunny (you!) to do a motor task to get another balloon! Some suggestions? Ten jumping jacks, a forward roll, 10 hops on one foot, etc. Whoever gets the most eggs in his or her basket wins!
HOW TO CHANGE IT UP:
– Designate one color of balloon for each child and only give them so many of that color. For toddlers, that may only be 1! This will encourage success and decrease the competition for eggs!
-To foster teamwork, have children work together by kicking the balloons back and forth to each other to get them all into one or two hoops.
-For even more of a competitive twist, have a child guard the basket (like a soccer goalie). Their objective is to break the eggs before the others can get them into the basket. If the goalie breaks the egg, the other child has to go back to the Easter Bunny to do a motor task to get another egg.
SKILL AREAS ADDRESSED: Gross motor skills, motor control, coordination, proprioception, social skills
[…] Gross Motor Activities: Basket of Eggs […]