Motor planning is the ability to think through and carry out new physical tasks, and it’s an essential skill for many daily activities, from playing on the playground to completing a puzzle. If a child has difficulty with motor planning they may have difficulty remembering what they need to do and how they do it, such as when completing self-care tasks like tying their shoes. In pediatric occupational therapy, we work with children to develop this skill by practicing how to plan, organize, and sequence movements for specific tasks. Children with motor planning difficulties will benefit from having new movements broken down into smaller steps as well as given a visual demonstration of the movement. Motor planning helps children learn how to respond to new challenges, use their body efficiently, and feel confident trying different movements. Kids with strong motor planning skills can adapt to new activities, whether it’s climbing up playground equipment or learning a dance. In therapy, we help build motor planning by practicing activities that encourage problem-solving, sequencing, and body awareness, all while making it fun and engaging. This way, kids become more independent and feel more at ease in both play and daily routines.
Activities to Complete at Home:
- Simon Says
- 4 square
- Jump Rope
- Upside Down Bowling
- Hop-Scotch
- Creating a life-sized maze out of yarn/crepe paper and have child navigate their way through the maze
- Stomp and catch
- Play with balls
- Follow the Leader
- Obstacle courses
- Dancing
- Completing activities with the non-dominant side of the body
- Riding a bike
- Tapping your head while rubbing your belly in a circle
- Charades
- Hand clapping games
- Games such as Hullabaloo or Sturdy Birdie
- “Lazy 8’s” – Figure 8’s drawn horizontally rather than vertical.
- Balloon volleyball while in a “crab walk” position
- Climbing/playing on jungle gym