🎅 ⛄ 10 Fun Christmas Gross Motor Activities for Pre-K Kids 🦌 🎄

The holiday season is a magical time for children—and what better way to celebrate than by moving, playing, and building gross motor skills? At Kinder-Garden Learning Center, we know that young children learn best through active, hands-on experiences. These Christmas-themed gross motor activities are perfect for classrooms, playdates, or even family fun at home!

Why Gross Motor Skills Matter for Children

Gross motor skills involve the use of large muscle groups to perform movements such as running, jumping, balancing, and climbing. Developing these skills is crucial for preschoolers because it:

• Strengthens muscles and coordination

• Supports brain development

• Improves balance and body awareness

• Builds confidence in movement and social interaction

Incorporating fun, holiday-themed activities makes learning even more engaging!

Christmas Gross Motor Activities for Children

Here are 10 festive activities that get children moving while celebrating the season, along with the developmental skills they support.

1. Reindeer Run

• How to play: Set up a course with cones, tape, or chairs. Children pretend to be reindeer delivering presents.

• Gross motor skills: Running, dodging, balance

• Skill Focus: Moves in different ways with control, changes direction while running, and steps over obstacles

2. Snowball Toss

• How to play: Use soft white balls or rolled-up socks as “snowballs.” Toss them into buckets or hoops.

• Gross motor skills: Throwing, aiming, hand-eye coordination

• Skill Focus: Throws and aims objects with accuracy, improves coordination between hands and eyes

  
  

3. Santa Says

• How to play: Like Simon Says, give commands such as “Santa says jump like a reindeer” or “Santa says tiptoe quietly.”

• Gross motor skills: Jumping, hopping, balance, listening skills

• Skill Focus: Balances while jumping or hopping and responds to verbal movement cues

  
  

4. Candy Cane Hunt

• How to play: Hide large foam candy canes or paper cutouts around the room or playground. Children collect them and bring them to a “Santa’s sack.”

• Gross motor skills: Crawling, bending, running, spatial awareness

• Skill Focus: Navigates space safely, bends and reaches while moving, adjusts movements to the environment

5. Elf Obstacle Course

• How to play: Set up tunnels, balance beams, cones to zigzag around, and soft items to step over. Children pretend to be Santa’s elves.

• Gross motor skills: Climbing, balancing, hopping, coordination

• Skill Focus: Combines multiple movements in sequence; climbs, hops, balances, and navigates obstacles

6. Snowman Bowling

• How to play: Stack cups decorated like snowmen and use a soft ball to knock them down.

• Gross motor skills: Rolling, aiming, coordination

• Skill Focus: Rolls or throws objects with control, improves aim and body coordination

7. Christmas Tree Stretch

• How to play: Put on holiday music. Children stretch up to “decorate the tree” and crouch low to “wrap presents under the tree.”

• Gross motor skills: Stretching, reaching, bending, balance

• Skill Focus: Maintains stability while stretching, bending, and reaching; practices balance and core strength

8. Jingle Bell Shake

• How to play: Give children small bells to shake while marching, hopping, or dancing to Christmas music.

• Gross motor skills: Marching, hopping, rhythm, coordination

• Skill Focus: Moves rhythmically to music; coordinates upper and lower body movements

9. Present Relay

• How to play: Divide children into teams. They carry “presents” (beanbags, small boxes) from one point to another without dropping them.

• Gross motor skills: Walking, running, balancing, teamwork

• Skill Focus: Carries objects while moving, maintains balance, and works cooperatively with peers

10. Freeze Dance – Christmas Edition

• How to play: Play holiday music. Children dance and move freely. When the music stops, they freeze like a snowman or Santa.

• Gross motor skills: Dancing, balance, stopping/starting movements

• Skill Focus: Balances in different poses, stops and starts safely, moves rhythmically to music

🎁 FREE printable reindeer hat

Tips for Teachers and Parents

• Use props like bells, soft balls, or paper decorations to make activities more engaging.

• Praise effort and participation, not just success.

• Adapt movements for children with varying abilities to ensure everyone can join in.

• Incorporate holiday music to encourage rhythm, coordination, and fun.

Celebrate and Move This Holiday Season!

Christmas is more than presents—it’s about joy, movement, and learning through play. These activities help children develop essential gross motor skills while having a blast with festive cheer. Try them at school or home and watch your little ones run, jump, and dance their way into the holiday spirit!

At Kinder-Garden Learning Center, we focus on hands-on, developmentally appropriate learning for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years. Our programs incorporate physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development through creative, engaging activities.

🎄 From Our KGLC Family to Yours 🎄

As we celebrate this joyful season, the Kinder-Garden Learning Center family wishes you and your loved ones a holiday filled with laughter, love, movement, and meaningful moments together. Thank you for being part of our community—we are so grateful to grow, learn, and celebrate alongside your families.

Happy Holidays and a joyful New Year! ❤️

-Love, The KGLC Team