We have very active kids and we try to get outside as often as we can, but sometimes the temperatures are too low and they have indoor recess multiple days in a row or there's lightening outside. So what to do with all that energy? And what gross motor toys are best for elementary school aged kids who have outgrown the tunnels and toddler slides?
Here are our favorite supplies for creating obstacle courses, regulating the kids' sensory systems, building forts, and expending energy:
Gonge River Stones: These giant stepping stones come with two sizes of grooved triangular "stones" that can be set up in countless ways to challenge balance, coordination, and attention. A must for a game of The Floor is Lava!
Sensory Swing: This swing is a game changer for certain kids! Swing to calm before bed, cozy up with a book and rock gently, spin fast, hold it to swing and jump from a stack of cushions, etc... This swing has held up beautifully to 6+ years of heavy use and it comes with a sturdy swivel hook and mounting hardware.
EZ Play gyms: Incredible indoor gyms big enough for multiple kids to play on. All of our kids learned the monkey bars from our Koala and this saved us during the pandemic winter with a newborn in 2020/21.
Groh Monkey Bars: These were part of our next phase once the kids outgrew the EZ Play monkey bars. We mounted these to our ceiling and they can even hold my husband and I!
The ceiling hooks and wooden rope ladder we use to get down from the monkey bars and the gymnastics rings we can also hang from the ceiling hooks.
Nugget: Probably our favorite toy in the house for 6 years now! It's a fort, a cozy spot to read, a different fort, the tower to reach monkey bars, a crash pad, and yet another fort. We have 2 play couches and the chunk for endless possibilities.
Trampoline: I love that this model has a bar they can hold on to or flip over and if they're little, two kids can jump together with one on either side.
Balance Beam: We love that this one folds for a smaller footprint when not in use. Excellent addition to obstacle courses!
Punching bag: This hangs from the same mount as the swing. We switch them out but that's a grown up job in our house :)
Gymnastics Bar: We got this one second hand from a local buy/sell/trade group and our kids love practicing their flips!
Hope these help you have more fun indoors, whatever the weather!
~ Arielle
See more of our gross motor fun on Instagram @adventureswithkidspod