One significant area of growth to watch from babyhood through preschool years is a child's gross motor skills development.
Gross motor skills are the large muscle movements of the body - arms, legs, and core areas.
My kids are always on the go, so I know they get enough movement, but I keep an eye on how coordinated they are in gross motor skills: climbing, jumping, catching, throwing are four main areas to check out.
When Little Tikes sent us the Big Dog Truck - the latest in ride on toys (affiliate link) - I knew I could use this toy around the house to allow my boys to utilize their gross motor skills indoors. With the New England weather getting chilly, I need some more indoor active play ideas!
Ways to use ride on toys to improve gross motor skills:
1. CLIMBING. Children climb on and off the ride on toys - watch how easily they are able to swing a leg over the top. Do they struggle to raise their leg up and over to dismount?
Help them practice climbing skills by making up a game where they have to travel to several locations and climb on and off the toy to retrieve items. The Little Tikes Big Dog Truck comes with three "rocks" that the truck has to "gobble" with its mouth. Sometimes I stash the rocks around the house and have the boys ride around to find them. The search-and-find game gives them have a reason to get on and off the toy.
2. WALKING. Instead of riding the toy, have them give their stuffed animals a ride and push the ride on around a track. Use painter's tape on the floor to mark out a large and winding track for them to follow. The Big Dog ride on actually functions as a ride on, walker, and dump truck, so you can get many activities out of the one toy!
3. BALANCING. Improve their core and balance by asking them to ride while carrying another toy like a large stuffed animal (nothing heavy, but something that makes them ride with one hand). This will force their bodies to use their core to balance while riding, steering, and holding the other toy. Kids love to give their stuffed animals rides, or perhaps tote a cloth bag of play food "home from the store."
4. BALL-PLAY. Playing with accessories like the fake rocks that come with the Big Dog also helps our boys develop gross motor skills. Sometimes they roll or toss the balls back and forth or to me before depositing into the dump truck's storage bin. They love pulling the lever on the side to release the rocks out the back. The Big Dog also "picks up" the toys with a spinning wheel when they drive over the rocks (best on a carpeted surface so the rocks don't roll away!).
My favorite picture - my boys having a "meet up" on their ride on toys! Big Dog meets Little Horse!
The boys love that their truck has a cool dog face, and so many ways to play with the handle (it lights up and makes noise!), rocks, and dumper, as well as being just an exciting ride on toy! They don't know how this is helping them develop, but I can sit back and smile, knowing they are having fun, learning, and growing at the same time!
This post was brought to you by Little Tikes and I received a promotional item in exchange. All opinions are my own.
Cute how it takes in the balls
Cute how it takes in the balls
I like that it lights up and makes noise!
I like that it lights up and makes noise!
My granddaughter would love this and its nice because it is a nice size for her to play inside on it.
My granddaughter would love this and its nice because it is a nice size for her to play inside on it.
I like the spinning wheel that picks up the toys, how cute!
I like the spinning wheel that picks up the toys, how cute!
I like that it can be used in so many ways, the wheel that picks the rocks up is a fun feature.
I like that it can be used in so many ways, the wheel that picks the rocks up is a fun feature.
It's great that it can be played in three ways!
It's great that it can be played in three ways!
the rocks are such a cute touch
the rocks are such a cute touch
I like the dog design I also like the rocks coming out a really cute added feature
I like the dog design I also like the rocks coming out a really cute added feature
I like that the handle lights up and makes noise. My son would love it!
I like that the handle lights up and makes noise. My son would love it!
I like how sturdy it is
I like how sturdy it is
I love the balance it promotes as well as the "rocks" to play with. The dog face is super fun too!
I love the balance it promotes as well as the "rocks" to play with. The dog face is super fun too!
I love that my son would have so much fun with this that he wouldn't realize that he is actually improving his gross motor skills. I like that there are so many variations of play involved in this one toy.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I love that my son would have so much fun with this that he wouldn't realize that he is actually improving his gross motor skills. I like that there are so many variations of play involved in this one toy.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I like that there is so many different ways to play with it.
I like the cute little storage bin.
I like the cute little storage bin.
My 23 month old son would LOVE this!
My 23 month old son would LOVE this!
I like that is helps to improve their core and balance.
I like that is helps to improve their core and balance.
I think my daughter would really love driving around to collect the "rocks".
I think my daughter would really love driving around to collect the "rocks".
My kids would love pulling the lever to dump the rocks out of the back! How fun!!
My kids would love pulling the lever to dump the rocks out of the back! How fun!!
I think my son would really enjoy riding on this toy, but he also loves to push things around. I like that it scoops up the "boulders"
I think my son would really enjoy riding on this toy, but he also loves to push things around. I like that it scoops up the "boulders"
versatile toy. many ways to play!!
versatile toy. many ways to play!!
this would be a much loved toy for my grandson
this would be a much loved toy for my grandson
I love that it can be played with so many ways
I love that it can be played with so many ways
My grandson would love the way it gobbles up the balls.
My grandson would love the way it gobbles up the balls.
I know he would love the riding and playing with the balls. This is so cute!
I know he would love the riding and playing with the balls. This is so cute!
I like that this is a toy that they can ride on, and still have it to play with picking up the balls. My great nephew would go crazy over this 😉
I like that this is a toy that they can ride on, and still have it to play with picking up the balls. My great nephew would go crazy over this 😉
I love the way it gobbles up the rocks & its a riding toy. Thats pretty awesome.
I love Little Tikes.
I love the way it gobbles up the rocks & its a riding toy. Thats pretty awesome.
I love Little Tikes.
My little boy would love driving this around!
My little boy would love driving this around!
Out of all the motor toys out there i love this one is educational & gear towards boys.
Out of all the motor toys out there i love this one is educational & gear towards boys.
omg my little guy would love one of these
omg my little guy would love one of these
Oh my little one would be thrilled to have one of these. Perfect way to keep him busy and learning!
Oh my little one would be thrilled to have one of these. Perfect way to keep him busy and learning!
Love all the features such a great toy
So many ways for the little ones to use this toy....but I like the ride on feature.
So many ways for the little ones to use this toy....but I like the ride on feature.
Our little man is just starting to walk and I love that playing and assisting motor skills are all included when children use this amazing toy ......makes learning FUN
Our little man is just starting to walk and I love that playing and assisting motor skills are all included when children use this amazing toy ......makes learning FUN
The Lights And Sounds Feature Is My Favorite, Super Fun Toy!
The Lights And Sounds Feature Is My Favorite, Super Fun Toy!
I like the fake rocks. Interactive and hand eye./
I like the fake rocks. Interactive and hand eye./
I really like the fact that it is not only a ride on toy but also something that will keep them busy while sitting on the floor. I have seen a lot of ride on toys like that lately. It gives the children several different ways to play and use their imagination. 🙂
I really like the fact that it is not only a ride on toy but also something that will keep them busy while sitting on the floor. I have seen a lot of ride on toys like that lately. It gives the children several different ways to play and use their imagination. 🙂
Oh this looks so fun! Would be wonderful for our cold winters too! I LOVE how the balls or rocks...come out! Fun!! He would also love how it lights up and makes noises! So neat! I have not seen anything like it before. He would love it!
Oh this looks so fun! Would be wonderful for our cold winters too! I LOVE how the balls or rocks...come out! Fun!! He would also love how it lights up and makes noises! So neat! I have not seen anything like it before. He would love it!
I love how this dog looks both cute and ferocious grrrr!
I love how this dog looks both cute and ferocious grrrr!
I love that it can improve their gross motor skills
I love that it can improve their gross motor skills
i like that it is not only a ride on toy it gives them something to work on and play with as well
i like that it is not only a ride on toy it gives them something to work on and play with as well
Our little one will like that it lights up and makes noise.
Our little one will like that it lights up and makes noise.
I like that you can play with it, ride it, and walk behind it. I love Little Tikes and feel they are such great quality. This would be a great toy!
I like that you can play with it, ride it, and walk behind it. I love Little Tikes and feel they are such great quality. This would be a great toy!
I like the safety component and I love when they have educational songs or games.!
Thank you!
I like the safety component and I love when they have educational songs or games.!
Thank you!
My Nephew loves trucks. I also like the Rocks lol 🙂
My Nephew loves trucks. I also like the Rocks lol 🙂
I love toys that make my kids "think" and use their brain!
I love toys that make my kids "think" and use their brain!
Is that the cutest truck or what?! Great tips you've shared. I like the tape on the ground one. Playing IS learning!
I love the lever that releases the rocks. My niece would love this.
I love the lever that releases the rocks. My niece would love this.
My son is currently semi obsessed with construction vehicles, and i Know he would absolutely LOVE this!
My son is currently semi obsessed with construction vehicles, and i Know he would absolutely LOVE this!
i like that the truck gobbles up the rocks its very interactive
i like that the truck gobbles up the rocks its very interactive
Walking. My daughter isn't there just yet.
Walking. My daughter isn't there just yet.
I like that he can ride on it and also use it as a walker.
I like that he can ride on it and also use it as a walker.
I think my son would really love pushing it around the house and watching it pick up the balls!
I think my son would really love pushing it around the house and watching it pick up the balls!
I like that this toy has multiple functions: as a walker, as a ride on toy, and as a dump truck.
I like that this toy has multiple functions: as a walker, as a ride on toy, and as a dump truck.
I like the variety of ways to use it.
I like the variety of ways to use it.
I was actually thinking of getting this for my two youngest grandsons for Christmas. Thank you so much for the great review! I love that it picks up the balls and shoots them back out. They would have so much fun with this!
I was actually thinking of getting this for my two youngest grandsons for Christmas. Thank you so much for the great review! I love that it picks up the balls and shoots them back out. They would have so much fun with this!
I love that this is small enough to use indoors
I love that this is small enough to use indoors