If you've ever watched a group of three-year-olds tumble across a climber, leap between stepping stones, or wheel a ride-on toy down the hallway, you already know what the research confirms: young children are wired to move. But in an era where structured academic time is on the rise even in preschool settings, gross motor play can quietly get crowded out – treated as filler between the "real" activities.
As a childcare director, you set the tone for how movement is valued at your center. And the evidence is worth knowing: gross motor development in early childhood isn't just about building strong bodies. It's directly tied to cognitive growth, emotional regulation, and school readiness.
Gross motor skills involve the large muscle groups – legs, arms, core – and the coordination required to use them effectively. Running, jumping, climbing, balancing, throwing, and catching all fall under this umbrella. These skills develop rapidly between ages 2 and 6, making the early childhood years a critical window.
Unlike fine motor skills (holding a pencil, using scissors), gross motor development is often visible and social – children tend to build these skills alongside and with each other. That makes active play environments a powerful space for more than just physical growth.
At SB, we say it often: movement isn't a break from learning – it's often the foundation of it. Research consistently shows that children who move more, focus better.
There's a reason pediatric occupational therapists have been raising the alarm about sedentary early childhood environments. Proprioception – the body's sense of where it is in space – develops through physical challenge: climbing, balancing, spinning, crashing. Children who don't get enough of this input often struggle with focus and sensory regulation long before anyone recognizes the root cause.
Movement also plays a direct role in building neural pathways. Activities that require crossing the body's midline – like crawling, reaching across, or throwing and catching – stimulate both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously. This cross-lateral movement has been linked to stronger reading and writing development later on.
For directors, this is worth communicating to families: time on the climber isn't time away from learning. In many cases, it's the prerequisite for it.
You don't need a dedicated gym or outdoor field to build meaningful movement into your program. Gross motor development happens in hallways, classrooms, and playgrounds alike – what matters most is intentional equipment and space design.
Look for opportunities to: Layer movement into transitions. Rather than lining up and waiting, use movement cards or guided physical activities to bridge moments between structured time. Skills like coordination, listening, and self-regulation all get a workout – and children arrive at the next activity more settled, not more wound up.
Invest in equipment that grows with children. Climbers, lofts, and ride-ons that offer progressive challenge keep children engaged over time and support a wider range of developmental stages within a single classroom.
Design for both big movement and balance. Not every child is a runner. Incorporate equipment that encourages balance, spatial awareness, and body control – including quieter, more focused gross motor activities like yoga-based movement cards or obstacle navigation.
When it comes to equipping your space for active play, we've done the curating for you. Our Active Play Collection brings together trusted brands – including climbing structures, ride-ons, play lofts, and more – all in one place, selected specifically for early childhood environments.
Browse the active play collection.
Gross motor play isn't a luxury – and it's not something children will simply "get enough of" at home. As the person responsible for the environment your enrolled children spend most of their waking hours in, the investment you make in active play infrastructure has a direct developmental return.
When children can climb, jump, balance, and move freely in a well-designed space, they come to circle time calmer, to art tables more focused, and to kindergarten better prepared – not despite the time spent moving, but because of it.
Need help outfitting your center's active play spaces? Our team works with childcare directors across the Chicago area to find the right fit for your rooms, budget, and age groups.
Send us a quick message or call 708-482-0243.