With Easter just around the corner, the Easter Bunny is gearing up to hop out there and hide all those eggs. But how will he have enough energy to make it to so many houses? By eating his carrots of course! Gross motor activities involving throwing at a target are perfect for promoting hand eye coordination and the ability to grade the force and direction of movement. In this fun game, kids will toss some carrots into the holes in the garden to feed the Easter Bunny a little snack! Perfect for Easter gross motor activities!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Beanbags (or make your own beanbag carrots), cardboard or foam board, brown paint, knife (grown-ups will have to take over for this part), black permanent marker, pencil, masking or painter’s tape
WHAT TO DO:
First, your little one will have the chance to make a little mess. Have him go crazy, painting the foam board brown all over. This is a great painting project for kids because the object is just to cover the whole board with paint – nothing fancy! Next, you can help your child trace a few different-sized circles onto your board with the pencil (we traced around bowls and plates to make our circles). Kids can help with this – depending on age and ability – tracing around an object is awesome for building visual motor and bilateral coordination skills. Now, the grown-up will take over, using the knife to cut the circles out of the board. Prop your foam board up on one side so it’s at an angle. Place a line of tape on the floor or designate a spot a little ways away from your “garden”. Now you’re ready to play! Tell kids that the Easter Bunny is hungry! Show them how to stand behind the line and toss the “carrots” (beanbags) into the different “rabbit holes” to feed the bunny!
HOW TO CHANGE IT UP:
-Have your little one decide on point values for the different holes (more points for smaller holes), writing them on the board underneath the holes. Keep track of how many points the kids earn as they toss their carrots.
-Need more of a challenge? Move that line of tape further and further away depending on children’s skill level.
-Try throwing beanbags in a variety of ways – overhand, underhand, backwards! Can the child balance the beanbag on his foot and then toss it from his foot into a hole?
-Feeling crafty? Whip up your own cute carrot beanbags using a little bit of sensory bin filler (dry corn, beans) and leftover scraps of orange and green felt sewn along the sides.
-Follow up with our other fun Rabbit Hole Game!
SKILL AREAS ADDRESSED: Gross motor skills, fine motor skills, visual motor integration, motor control, coordination
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[…] you again to everyone that shared! Check out our favorite gross motor activity from this week on The Inspired […]