Enroll children in dance classes that are geared toward this age group, or teach them different types of dance steps yourself. Alternatively, engage children in opportunities for freestyle dance. Simply play different types of music and encourage them to dance however they like, which helps to strengthen gross motor muscles while allowing children to creatively express themselves. Through dance, children put the various large muscles of their body to use, strengthening and honing the use of them.
Play a simple game of catch. The game monkey-in-the-middle is another toss game that encourages gross motor development. Set up buckets or hang hula hoops from a tree limb and offer children beanbags or balls to toss into the buckets or through the hula hoops. Through toss games, children develop the large muscles in their arms and backs.
Engage children in jumping games to develop the large muscles in their legs and hips. Draw shapes on the ground with sidewalk chalk and have children jump through the shapes. Set up a hopscotch board on the ground and instruct children how to play the game. Lay hula hoops along the ground and encourage children to jump from one hula hoop to the next. Offer kids potato sacks and have them compete in potato sack races.
Simple games such as hide-and-seek and tag develop the muscles of the legs, trunk and arms, as children use all in unison while running. Play a traditional game of hide-and-seek or tag, or engage children in different forms of these games, such as kick-the-can or freeze tag.