27 Fun Activities and Toys to Increase Your 3 Year Olds Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skills are an essential area of development for young children. Whether they’re destined to be anything from an athlete to a dancer, these 27 fun activities and toys are a great way to combine entertainment with strengthening those skills for three year olds.

Here's a comprehensive list of activities and toys that combine fun and entertainment with gross motor skill development.

School Smart Stepping Buckets Balance Builders

School Smart Stepping Buckets Balance Builders

Three year olds will love hopping along these stepping buckets to avoid the lava below! Provided in bold primary colors and made of durable, hard wearing rubber – these buckets are held together by nylon rope and can be positioned to create an obstacle course that’s great for developing a child’s balance and coordination skills. $38.26

Move Your Body Fun Deck Cards

Move Your Body Fun Deck Cards

This pack of cards is a great way to improve the gross motor skills of young children whilst teaching them about animals. Each card features a fun illustration of an animal, with directions on how to move like them – with 58 movements it’s a fun and easy way to improve their strength, balance and coordination.$20.50

Karma Toddler Stacking Block Set

Karma Toddler Stacking Block Set

Create a secret fort, build a magnificent tower, use them as stepping stones – the only limit is their imagination with these bold, soft and sturdy building blocks in a range of shapes. They’ll quickly stimulate their creativity and build their strength and coordination skills as they spend hours playing and building.$71.50

Jungle Ring Toss Game

Jungle Ring Toss Game

Have endless fun and bring out any child’s competitive side and their team spirit with this jungle themed ring toss game. Featuring four natural wooden stands decorated as whimsical jungle characters, this game is great for improving hand-eye coordination and encouraging movement and problem solving.$12.99

Melissa & Doug Dilly Dally Turtle Target Action Game

Melissa & Doug Dilly Dally Turtle Target Action Game

This target practice game will provide hours of fun for adults as well as children! With two different colors of bean bag, players take it in turns to hit the targets on the turtle’s shell back to score points – improving hand-eye coordination, motor skills and providing a fun challenge.$23.61

Joyin Toy Kid Baseball T-Ball Set

Joyin Toy Kid Baseball T-Ball Set

Do you have dreams of your child entering the Major Leagues? Get started with their training as early as possible with this baseball t-ball set. The 360 degree ‘T’ stand can be adjusted to the perfect height, and is complete with three balls and an oversized bat – ideal for perfecting their swing.Prices Vary

Step2 Shootin' Hoops Junior Basketball Set

Step2 Shootin' Hoops Junior Basketball Set

Is your toddler the next Michael Jordan? With this junior basketball set you’ll quickly find out if they have a natural talent, or if they’ll need a few years of training. This sturdy set will give them everything they need to get started with their basketball career.$34.99

Little Tikes Trampoline

Little Tikes Trampoline

If nap time is approaching and you’re desperate to quickly use up all of your toddler’s energy, this Little Tikes Trampoline is the perfect solution. A fun way to improve fitness, balance and coordination, the trampoline features a handlebar and low height for stability and safety.$53.11

Blue Horse Hopper

Blue Horse Hopper

Kids will love bouncing around the house on their noble steed with this inflatable jumping horse space hopper. Bouncing on the rideable will strengthen their balance and coordination skills and their general fitness, whilst providing hours of fun and quickly using up loads of their energy!$19.99

The Original PlasmaCar by PlaSmart

The Original PlasmaCar by PlaSmart

Hold races around the block and prepare your child for the next Soap Box Derby whilst improving their gross motor skills with the PlasmaCar. With no pedals, batteries or gears, it’s powered purely by gravity and can reach up to 6 mph – plus it can support adults too, just in case you get jealous!$59.87

Baseball Bat, Glove And Soft Ball Set

Baseball Bat, Glove And Soft Ball Set

Introduce your three year old to pitching, catching and batting without the fear of injuries or broken windows with this bright and colorful kids baseball set. The ball and bat are made with soft, plush materials for added safety – perfect for working their way up to the real set.Prices Vary

Little Tikes T-Ball Set

Little Tikes T-Ball Set

The Little Tikes T-Ball set is another great way to introduce toddlers to baseball and sports whilst strengthening their fitness and motor skills. The lightweight bat and balls prevent injury and damage and the ‘T’ can be adjusted to their height as they quickly grow.$19.99

Activity Walking Trail

Activity Walking Trail

Create an obstacle course in your very own home with this Activity Walking Trail set. The twelve blue walking boards and five red circular bases can be set up in any way you choose, and are great for children to practice their balancing without any safety risks.$115.00

Little Tikes 7' Climb 'N Slide Trampoline

Little Tikes 7' Climb 'N Slide Trampoline

Any child will love spending hours bouncing away in the Little Tikes Climb ‘N Slide Trampoline. The 7ft trampoline is surrounded by a safety net for peace-of-mind, and they can get in and out themselves with the climber on one side, and slide on the other.$450.99

Fisher-Price Grow-to-Pro Better Batter Baseball

Fisher-Price Grow-to-Pro Better Batter Baseball

This great kid-safe alternative to batting cages is the perfect toy to help your child practice their batting skills. To load a ball they simply need to tap the plate with their foot, and the Grow-to-Pro Better Batter set does the rest, plus sound effects and ballpark music will prepare them for the real thing!Prices Vary

Play Tent and Tunnel Toy Jungle

Play Tent and Tunnel Toy Jungle

Create an adventurous tunnel system for your child in your home with this tent and tunnel toy jungle. The six piece set can be arranged to your choice and the pop-up tents can be filled with colorful balls – kids will love crawling around on their hands and knees and it can easily be folded away!Prices Vary

FlagHouse Plastic Safe Grip Scooter

FlagHouse Plastic Safe Grip Scooter

Whether they’re zipping around on their front or using it to cart around their toys, this plastic scooter will provide endless fun whilst developing any child’s gross motor skills. Plus it features safety grip handles on either side, so you don’t have to worry about them falling off as they fly around the room!$18.99

Ride-on Excavator

Ride-on Excavator

Every child’s digging dreams will be brought to life with this ride-on excavator scooter. The 3-in-1 toy can be used as a digger with the detachable arm, as a scooter, or as a pulling cart. The flashing lights, music and sound effects help to create a realistic experience… you’ll soon be wishing for snow!$59.98

Digger Scooter Ride-on Excavator

Digger Scooter Ride-on Excavator

Put your toddler to work with this ride-on toy tractor. With the rotatable driver’s cab and controllable arm they’ll be able to scoop up sand and pebbles to help tidy your yard, plus with the music, sound effects and toy builder’s helmet they’ll have loads of fun doing it!$69.99

ALEX Toys Active Play Monkey Balance Board

ALEX Toys Active Play Monkey Balance Board

Encourage your three year old to practice their balance triscks as part of their gross motor skills development whilst having fun with this monkey balance board. As they stand on the colorful base they’ll need to move around and find their balance to keep the monkey from touching the floor.$14.69

Melissa & Doug Happy Giddy Crawl-Through Tunnel

Melissa & Doug Happy Giddy Crawl-Through Tunnel

This fun caterpillar tunnel will make a wonderful colorful addition to any home. Incredibly quick and easy to set up and fold away, the tunnel is water-resistant for outdoor play as well as indoor – your child will love crawling their way through this rainbow adventure.$27.92

Kids Bowling Toy Play Sets

Kids Bowling Toy Play Sets

All the fun of the bowling lane without the cost and heavy bowling balls, this kids bowling play set is a great kid-friendly alternative. Large, bold numbers on the pins help to track scores and the lightweight foam balls are easy and safe for young children to carry.$23.99

Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Cutie Pie Butterfly Kickball

Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Cutie Pie Butterfly Kickball

Every child needs a good kickball, whether it’s for throwing, playing catch, kicking around for soccer or bouncing in basketball – this rubber kickball is perfect. The beautiful pink butterfly design adds a cute and personal touch – this is one ball that they won’t lose over the fence!$8.32

Fisher-Price Better Batter Baseball

Fisher-Price Better Batter Baseball

The Fisher-Price Better Batter baseball trainer is a great toy for any child to practice their batting skills. Automatically loading with a quick tap for ease of use, the baseball is held in the air by velcro, so they’re not concentrating on avoiding hitting the ‘T’.Prices Vary

Franklin Sports NHL Mini Hockey 2-In-1 Set

Franklin Sports NHL Mini Hockey 2-In-1 Set

Is your three-year old a future hockey champion? Find out and begin their training whilst strengthening their fitness and hand-eye coordination skills with this mini hockey set. Including two hockey goals, four hockey sticks, and three balls, all of different sizes, it contains everything you need to setup your own hockey pitch at home.$32.37

Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Giddy Buggy Kickball

Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Giddy Buggy Kickball

This children’s rubber kickball is out of this world! Featuring a bright green design and fun alien characters, this ball not only looks cool, but is also a fun and exciting way for kids to develop their hand-eye coordination, strength, balance, fitness and sports skills.$9.09

Outon Kick Scooter

Outon Kick Scooter

This three wheel scooter is a fun and stylish mode of transport for any young child. They’ll love zooming around the house or garden whilst showing off their flashing wheels. Plus the ‘lean to steer’ design provides an easy and exciting way to develop their balance skills.$59.99

3 Diy Toddler Activities for Gross Motor Skill Improvement

Spin, Roll & Count Exercise Game

Spin, Roll & Count Exercise Game

If you’d love to make your own entertainment for your three year old, this tutorial provides a fun and easy project for creating a gross motor skill spinner game. All you need is a paper plate, glue, paper and cardboard; you can even download the template from The Pinterested Parent’s blog.

Colour Run & Sort Toddlers

Colour Run & Sort Toddlers

This fun game is a great way to introduce color recognition whilst building a variety of motor skills. Simply using some colored balls, empty baskets, a few obstacles and a timer, it’s a race against the clock as children rush to collect the balls and put them in the matching basket.

Beach Themed Gross Motor Dice Game

Beach Themed Gross Motor Dice Game

If you’re dreaming of the warm, sunny beach this beach themed movements game is perfect. The easy tutorial will help you create two large dice, one to decide the type of movement and one for the speed – these dice are a great way to get your little ones moving.

(You may also like: 37 Hands-On Toys Your 3 Year Old Will Use to Develop Fine Motor Skills)

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