Gross Motor Skills Occupational Therapy | Play2Learn Plant2Grow

Gross motor skills are the big movements that use the large muscles of the body: rolling, crawling, walking, climbing, jumping, running, throwing and catching. Gross motor skills occupational therapy looks at how your child's body and brain work together to make those movements feel safe, organized and fun.

It matters because big movement is the foundation for so much of daily life. A child who tires quickly or feels wobbly may avoid the playground, and then miss out on play with friends. It can also affect sitting at a desk and, later, handwriting, because a steady trunk supports steady hands. OT often overlaps with physical therapy, and when something looks medical or structural, I refer to your pediatrician or a physical therapist and work alongside them.

• Clumsiness: frequent trips, bumps and dropped balance. Inside, a child may not sense where their body is in space, and daily life feels full of small surprises.

• Slumping or leaning: propping on furniture, a hand, or a parent. Inside, holding the body upright takes real effort, and sitting at meals or circle time becomes tiring.

• Playground avoidance: hanging back from climbing or swings. Inside, movement may feel unpredictable or scary, and friends may move on without them.

• Tiring quickly: wanting to be carried or sit down after a short walk. Inside, the body works harder than it looks, so outings are cut short.

• Crashing and rough play: throwing themselves onto cushions or into people. Inside, the body is seeking strong input to feel organized, which can be misread as misbehavior.

• Difficulty with jumping, hopping or skipping: skills that seem easy for peers. Inside, the steps of a big move may be hard to plan, which can dent confidence.

• Trouble catching or riding a bike: missing the ball or resisting the scooter. Inside, timing and coordination feel out of reach, so a child may stop trying.

Look for patterns across weeks and settings, not a single clumsy afternoon.

• Does your child avoid certain movements even when other kids their age are enjoying them?

• Do they seem worn out after movement that does not tire their peers?

• Do teachers mention fidgeting, leaning or difficulty sitting?

You don't need a diagnosis to deserve support. If something feels off, a conversation is a good place to start.

I believe therapy should feel like an extension of childhood, not an interruption of it. Instead of a sterile clinic room, we use the cushions, stairs, hallway and backyard you already have. Movement skills build in layers: core strength and postural control first, then balance, bilateral coordination, crossing the midline, body awareness, and the motor planning that lets a child know the steps of a big move.

Sessions are play based. We might build a living room obstacle course, crawl and roll before we jump, practice hopping on spots, or throw beanbags to build catching. I use heavy work and movement, graded challenge, and co regulation, so your child feels safe enough to try. Heavy work can happen at home too, with carrying laundry baskets, pushing a box across the floor and pulling a wagon.

Progress usually unfolds in small, visible steps, like a child who sits longer, tries the slide, or hops on one foot for the first time. Growth is messy, and that is part of the process. We build from rolling and crawling toward jumping, skipping, stairs, scooter and bike readiness.

This support may be a strong fit if:

• Your child is a toddler through early elementary age and movement feels harder than it should.

• Your child avoids the playground, tires quickly, or has been called "just hyper".

• You want playful, practical support that fits your living room and your day.

This may not be the best fit if:

• Your child has sudden changes in movement, pain, or a concern that looks medical or structural. Please see your pediatrician first.

• Your child needs a physical therapist for a specific orthopedic or neurological need. I will gladly refer and work alongside that provider.

We begin with a free discovery call. If we decide to continue, I come to your home for a comprehensive OT evaluation, and we see how your child moves in their own space. Many families begin weekly, and we build the plan together. In home sessions work well because your child is in a familiar place, and the skills we build carry into real routines.

If you would like to know what the first visit involves, this blog explains what an OT evaluation is and what families can expect. When you are ready, you can reach out through the contact page.

Parent coaching is built in, so you leave each session knowing what to try. You are not outsourced, you are included. I share ideas with your pediatrician and school when helpful. Play2Learn Plant2Grow is an out of network provider, and superbills are available on request.

• Core strength and posture: so your child can sit, stand and play without leaning or tiring so fast.

• Balance and steadiness: through beams, cushions and stepping games that make wobbling feel like play.

• Motor planning: learning the steps of a new big move before trying it.

• Jumping, hopping, skipping and catching: built in order, with plenty of celebration.

• Playground confidence and endurance: climbing, swinging and keeping up with friends.

• Scooter and bike readiness: strength, balance and courage, step by step.

• Using the right amount of force: heavy work that teaches the body how hard to push, jump and carry.

• Build a tiny obstacle course with pillows and a blanket tunnel. Five minutes of crawling and climbing counts.

• Offer heavy work before a hard moment, like carrying groceries or pushing a laundry basket.

• Let rough play happen safely with a crash pile of cushions, so the need has a good outlet.

• Skip the pressure to perform. Say "want to try it with me?" instead of correcting form.