Gross Motor Activities for 18-24 Months Toddlers

From 18 to 24 months, your toddler's walk becomes steadier and they begin to run, climb stairs with help, and kick a ball. Their bodies are growing stronger and more coordinated by the day. These activities channel that boundless energy into purposeful physical development.

13 activities

Obstacle Course

Set up a simple indoor obstacle course for climbing, crawling, and jumping.
1. Use pillows, cushions, boxes, and blankets to create a simple course.
2. Include something to climb over, crawl under, and walk around.
3. Demonstrate the course once: "Over the pillow! Under the blanket!"
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PillowsCushionsBlanketsCardboard box
Moderate

Toddler Run

Practice running freely in an open, safe space.
1. Find a safe open area — a yard, park, or long hallway.
2. Run alongside your child: "Let's run! Fast fast fast!"
3. Change directions: "This way! Now this way!" Running while changing direction challenges balance.
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Easy

Squat and Stand

Practice squatting down to pick up objects and standing back up.
1. Scatter 4-5 small toys around the floor.
2. Ask your child to pick them up one at a time: "Can you get the ball? Put it in the basket!"
3. Watch how your child squats — bending at the knees rather than just bending at the waist shows growing leg strength.
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4-5 small toysBasket or container
Easy

Carry and Walk

Walk while carrying large or heavy objects for a balance challenge.
1. Give your child something large but safe to carry — a stuffed animal, a small pillow, a plastic bucket.
2. Ask them to carry it across the room: "Can you bring teddy to the couch?"
3. The size and weight shift their center of gravity, making balance harder — and that's the point.
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Large stuffed animal or pillowPlastic bucket
Moderate

Tiptoe Walk

Walk on tiptoes across the room for advanced balance practice.
1. Stand in front of your child and rise up on your toes: "Look! I'm walking on my tippy toes!"
2. Walk slowly on tiptoes across the room: "Tiptoe, tiptoe, tiptoe... so quiet!"
3. Encourage your child to try: "Can you walk on your tippy toes? Up up up!"
... See full activity in the app
Advanced

Kick and Score

Kick a ball toward a target to build leg coordination
1. Place a large soft ball on the ground in front of your child.
2. Set up a simple goal — two pillows or shoes a few feet apart.
3. Show your child how to swing one foot forward to kick the ball: "Kick it through the goal!"
... See full activity in the app
soft balltwo pillows or shoes for goal
Easy

Push the Heavy Box

Push and pull a weighted box across the room for heavy work
1. Find a cardboard box or laundry basket and place a few books or toys inside to add weight.
2. Place it on a smooth floor surface.
3. Show your child how to push the box by placing both hands on one side: "Push it to the wall!"
... See full activity in the app
cardboard box or laundry basketbooks or toys for weight
Moderate

Bubble Wrap Stomp

Stomp on bubble wrap for loud pops and big movements
1. Tape a sheet of bubble wrap to the floor.
2. Take off shoes and socks.
3. Show your child how to stomp on it: "Stomp! Pop! Did you hear that?"
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bubble wraptape
Easy

Throw at the Target

Throw soft balls at a target on the wall or floor
1. Tape a large target (paper plate or drawn circle) on the wall at your child's chest height.
2. Stand a few feet back and give your child soft balls or rolled-up socks.
3. Show how to throw overhand toward the target: "Try to hit the circle!"
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soft balls or rolled-up sockspaper plate or drawn circle targettape
Advanced

Step Up Step Down

Practice stepping on and off a low step or stool
1. Find a sturdy low step — a step stool, thick book, or bottom stair step.
2. Stand next to it and hold your child's hand for support.
3. Say "Step up!" and help your child step onto the step with one foot, then the other.
... See full activity in the app
sturdy low step or stool
Advanced

Marching Band

March with high knees while making music
1. Give your child a pot and wooden spoon, or any noisemaker.
2. Say "Let's be a marching band! Lift those knees high!"
3. Demonstrate marching in place with exaggerated high knees.
... See full activity in the app
pot and wooden spoon or noisemaker
Advanced

Pillow Balance

Stand and walk on pillows for a wobbly balance challenge
1. Lay 3-4 couch cushions or pillows on the floor in a line.
2. Say "Can you walk across the squishy pillows?"
3. Hold your child's hand for the first crossing.
... See full activity in the app
3-4 couch cushions or pillows
Advanced

Freeze Dance

Dance to music and freeze when it stops
1. Put on music your child enjoys.
2. Dance together — jump, spin, wave arms!
3. Pause the music suddenly and call "Freeze!"
... See full activity in the app
music player
Advanced

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