Music is a great medium for working on gross motor skills. Preschoolers love to dance, sing and play instruments along with music. Have everyone select an instrument or scarf to dance with. Explain the rules of the game. When the music is playing, preschoolers should dance around and sing, play their instruments, and wave scarves. As soon as the music stops, everyone has to freeze and hold their pose as long as possible. The last child still frozen in place is the winner.
Have all preschoolers find their own space to dance in. Discuss keeping hands and body to themselves so to not disturb other's dancing and participation in the game. Play music and allow children to dance and sing. Stop music and wait until one preschooler is left frozen. Let the winner of the game be in charge of starting and stopping the music for the next round.
Playing memory games will help memory development. Have each child select a small object, around the size of a matchbox car, from around the room. Arrange preschoolers so they are sitting in a circle around you. Place each object in a spot in front of you, naming the object along with a specific characteristic of the object such as "green car." Place a large blanket over the objects. Use your hand, reach under the blanket and remove an object quickly and place behind your back. Remove the blanket and ask, "what's missing?"
Allow preschoolers to yell out their answers or take turns one at a time guessing what was removed. When an object is guessed, show students the removed object. Repeat the names and characteristics of objects remaining and cover again with the blanket. Continue removing objects and guessing until all objects have been removed.
Most preschoolers know how to play red light green light, but adding in a yellow light helps encourage preschoolers to control their body movements by having to slow down.
Have preschoolers help set up a course to play the game by placing things in their pathways such as pillows they have to jump over, chairs they have to crawl under and tables they have to walk around. Select a spot that is considered the end or the winning location to reach.
Explain the rules to the game. When a red piece of construction paper is shown with the word "stop" on it and they hear the word "stop", everyone must stop. When a green piece of construction paper is shown with the word "go" on it along with hearing the word "go", they may move forward. If a yellow piece of construction paper with the word "slow" is shown along with hearing the word "slow", preschoolers must move in slow motion. Begin the game when directions are understood by all playing. When someone reaches the finish line, that person is the winner and may be in charge of the color cards for the next game.