Toddlers learn through their bodies. Every climb, wobble and stomp builds the strength, balance and coordination they will rely on for years. For educators in a busy toddler room, the challenge is finding gross motor activities that work indoors, need no equipment and hold the attention of a group of one to three year olds for more than a minute.
Yoga based movement games tick all of those boxes. Below are eight simple games you can run today, plus tips for setting them up so they feel calm rather than chaotic.
Why gross motor play matters for toddlers
Gross motor skills use the large muscles of the body: legs, arms and core. Between 12 months and three years, children move from first steps to running, jumping with two feet and balancing briefly on one leg. Regular, playful practice helps them get there with confidence.
Movement also supports the Early Years Learning Framework. Outcome 3, children have a strong sense of wellbeing, includes children becoming strong in their physical learning and wellbeing, and gross motor play is one of the most natural ways to plan for it. If you are documenting this for your Quality Improvement Plan, our guide to how kids yoga supports the EYLF and National Quality Standard walks through the links.
Before you start: setting up for success
Keep it short. Three to five minutes of focused movement is plenty for toddlers. Run a game, then return to free play.
Model everything. Toddlers copy far more than they follow verbal instructions, so do every move with them.
Use space markers. A mat, carpet square or tape spot for each child gives them a home base and reduces collisions.
Expect wobbles. Falling over is part of the learning. Celebrate the try, not the perfect pose.
8 yoga games for toddler gross motor skills
1. Bear walks
Hands and feet on the floor, bottoms in the air, and off you go. Bear walks build shoulder and core strength, which supports later fine motor skills such as holding a crayon. Add a growl for extra engagement.
2. Frog jumps
Squat low with hands on the floor, then spring up and land back in a squat. Jumping with two feet together is a key milestone from around age two, and frog jumps make practising it fun. Count "one, two, three, ribbit!" before each jump.
3. Tree balance
Stand tall with arms up like branches. Younger toddlers can simply lift one heel; older children can rest one foot against the opposite ankle. Hold for a slow count of three, then let the wind blow the trees gently from side to side.
4. Crab crawl
Sit, place hands behind you, lift your tummy and scuttle. Crab crawls strengthen arms, legs and core all at once. Many toddlers will sit down after a few steps, and that is fine.
5. Rocket ship
Crouch low, count down from five together, then blast off by jumping up and stretching tall. This builds leg power and gives children practice with anticipation and waiting, which supports self regulation.
6. Animal walk parade
Call out an animal and move like it: tiptoe like a mouse, stomp like an elephant, slither like a snake, flap like a bird. Switching between movements builds coordination and listening skills. Find more ideas in our list of 10 animal yoga poses for preschoolers.
7. Bridge tunnel
Older toddlers lie on their backs with feet flat and lift their hips to make a bridge. Educators can roll a soft ball or push a toy car through the tunnel. This strengthens the legs and back while adding a playful goal.
8. Floppy fish to statue
Children wiggle and flop on the floor like fish, then freeze like statues when the music stops. Moving from big movement to stillness helps toddlers notice their bodies and practise stopping on cue, a useful skill for transitions.
Bringing it together: a five minute toddler flow
Try this sequence before lunch or after outdoor play:
Rocket ship countdown (three blast offs)
Bear walk to the mats
Frog jumps on the spot (five jumps)
Tree balance with swaying branches
Floppy fish to statue to finish calmly
Close with one slow belly breath together and a quiet "well done, yogis."
Adapting for different ages and abilities
For children under 18 months, focus on crawling games, supported standing and simple stretches up high and down low. For children who find balance difficult, offer a wall or an educator's hand to hold. For quieter children, invite them to be the leader who calls the next animal, which builds confidence without pressure. For more on what yoga does at each age, read our guide to yoga for toddlers.
How Yoga Bears can help
Planning fresh movement experiences every week is a lot to ask of busy educators. Yoga Bears has worked with more than 600 early learning centres across Australia since 2019, bringing kids yoga teachers to your centre for sessions designed around each age group, from toddlers to kinder. Educators often pick up games and cues they can reuse during the week.
Explore our childcare yoga programs to see what a session looks like, check whether we teach in your area, such as Brisbane, or contact us to book a session for your centre.
