Gross MotorPreschoolers51 Comments
You'll never guess how much gross motor fun your kids will have with just simple lines of colored tape!
I finally got some colored tape (affiliate link)! I didn’t even have plans for it, but I felt the need to have it for some fun tape activities!
And boy, did we ever have fun. All with just simple lines of colored tape, too!
Tons of Fun, Just Simple Lines of Colored Tape!
Honestly, even I was amazed at just how into these activities my boys got. The best part? Setup was practically non-existent!
To create your own simple lines of colored tape activity, you’ll need:
- Colored tape in different colors
- Pom poms
- Straws
- Space to play
First, I taped some fun lines on the floor in three different colors: a blue zig-zag line, a red curvy line, and one straight green line.
We ended up with two tape activities with this one setup of colored tape.
- Walk the line of colored tape.
- Blow pom poms along the coordinating color line.
I forgot to snag a ton of pictures of our original go-round with our lines of tape activity. But it was a hit!
So much so that we recently redid this activity again with my preschooler, George.
Below are the latest images of George doing the tape activities mixed in with Henry doing the activities a couple of years ago.
Henry was 3 at the time when we first did this. George is 4 when we did it again with the new photos below.
Walk the Lines of Colored Tape
Simple: just walk along the lines of tape. One foot in front of each other.
Following one of the colored lines. You could pick for your child – like follow the leader or “Simon Says” – or let them go around as they please.
The straight line is pretty easy. It’s straight after all!
But the curved and zig-zag lines are harder. Kids will need to work on balance to stay on their color.
Make it harder by doing it backwards, or even sideways!
You could “challenge” toys to walk the lines of colored tape, too! Drive trucks or “walk” animal toys along the lines.
Add an extra challenge to your next walk the line activity – balance and transfer toys!
Kids love to have their special toys involved in their play and learning!
Blow Pom Poms Along the Lines of Colored Tape
This next challenge works on motor planning, color matching, and breath control. Plus, it’s just plain fun while still being kind of hard for younger kids.
Ask your kids to blow pom poms along the lines, matching the pom pom color to the lines of tape.
Can your child hit the bullseye with pom pom target practice!
Blow the pom poms down the line with a straw. You could forgo the straw, but they make it really fun!
Set out a group of pom poms in various colors. Then ask your child to pick out the pom pom that matches their color line.
Or not – your call!
Then, set the challenge.
“Try your best keeping the pom pom on the line all the way to the end.”
Older kids might respond to a penalty. Sometimes, having something, anything happen when they don’t quite finish the challenge motivates them to keep going or try harder.
One “penalty” idea: start over at the beginning of the line each time your pom pom goes off. Or you could just have them start back at the last place their pom pom was on the line.
It’s really harder than you think! Join them!
As you blow your pom poms along the line of colored tape, ask:
- Does it work better if you are closer or farther away?
- Do short, hard breath work better than longer, slower breaths?
- Which line is hardest? Which is easiest?
Have pom pom races! I shared a pom pom racing activity over on PBS Parents using this same technique.
Ultimately: laugh. Joining in the fun will definitely make you laugh and make your kids’ day!
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Oyuna says
Wow! Thank you so much for finding your incredible website. What a great site for teachers and parents to develop all sensory skills, the alphabet, the colors, the shapes! I am like a kid in a kingdom of Sweets. Can’t get enough! Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!
Oyuna, English Kindergarten and Primary School Teacher.
Nishi Shridhar says
Hi there!
I am a preschool teacher. Here in my country, we introduce writing to our children with the concept of sleeping line, standing line, curved line, and a slant line. Are you aware of this concept? I really need a fun method to introduce this to my children. Do you have any suggestions?
Heather T says
I’m having a hard time finding tape. What kind did you use and where did you find it?
Rachel says
The best options are either masking tape or blue painter’s tape. You can find it just about anywhere – online, home improvement store, big-box store and probably even some grocery stores.
Saadia Hameed says
Excellent ideas
Gramma says
I’m a grandmother of a very active 4 year old boy. Your ideas are perfect to keep him busy on my 2 babysitting days each week. Keep ’em coming!
Eunice martinez says
Good stuff!
Moksuda begum says
Fab idea. Simple and mess free.
Cindy says
We are going to do this tonight with our Clubhouse Buddies Group. We have 18 preschoolers coming and we break them up into 3 groups. This will be a great active game for them to learn to follow directions, and learn colors and shapes.
Thank you
Maha says
Awesome activity. Montessori activities are really helpful to develop the skills of children. Thanks for sharing this tape activity with us.
Joan Sanders says
I’m looking for a St.Patrick’s Day craft for 3 year olds.
smitha says
great tape activity. loved it. but once u finish the activity, how do u clean the tape from the floor?
TumbleTastics says
What a great activity to do on a rainy day!
hilke says
Just pint!!!
Nice idea.
Heidi Kay says
Hello,
I was perusing the web, looking for good therapy activities to share with the pediatric clinicians we serve, and found your Blowing on Lines of Colored Tape! I was wondering if I could have permission to feature the photo and idea on our Instagram feed.
(http://instagram.com/pediastaff#).
As you may know, I am unable to create a clickable link to your post through Instagram but I would obviously credit your blog and put a link to the specific page the post came from along with suggestion that they visit that page on your blog for directions and more pictures in the description if that works…
Here is the post that has the image I would love to share
https://handsonaswegrow.com/fun-kid-activity-lines-of-colored-tape/
Thanks so much in advance!
Cindy Hamm says
I never knew that we can use colored tapes for some fun activities. I think I should have some colored tapes in the tool box, and can’t wait to have fun with my kids this weekend :-D
Carly says
Hi! Can I use a picture and include your link on my Movement for children facebook page? What a great exercise!
Jamie Reimer says
Hey Carly – sure! As long as you give the link and mention where its from, I’m always okay with social sharing! Thanks for asking!
OneMommy says
Looks like fun! And, it may help my little guy blow bubbles for swim class better if we try the blowing one!
Kerry Edwards says
Is there any issue with the tape sticking to the floor long term? We are in a rental and I am terrified to mess up our beautiful floors!
Jamie says
Kerry, if you’re concerned about it, use painters’ tape (I think you can get that in different colors too) — I’ve never had a problem with that. I have had a couple issues in just certain spots with this tape where its taken a little bit of the finish off.
Jill @ A Mom With A Lesson Plan says
Okay, I love the blowing a pom pom idea but all I can picture is spit flying everywhere. Did you find spit to be a problem??? If you say no, I am spreading tape all over tomorrow morning! PLEASE SAY NO!
Jamie @ hands on : as we grow says
Jill – No, there wasn’t really a lot of spit. They kept the blowing pretty contained. I just did this again Friday night with a group of kids and they also kept it pretty contained, no spitting! :)
Jill @ A Mom With A Lesson Plan says
YEAH! That’s it… I know what we are doing today. Thanks Jaime. ;)
Suzanne says
Your coloured lines go perfectly with the song,"Walking on the Line" by Alleyoop! It's something my buddies and I listen to everyday! I will try to attach a link so you can hear http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002E4RDC8/ref=dm_dp_trk15
Ms. Barbara says
That's awesome! Looks like they're having a blast. I LOVE colored tape. I get mine from Discount School Supply. I've used mine for hopscotch, a corral for rocking horses, a framework for indoor bowling, and more…
Deborah says
LOVE IT! Yes LOVE IT!
maryanne @ mama smiles says
What fun! My 2yo just saw this and said, "Oh, I want to do that!"
Coombe Mill says
Great idea for littleones. I do something similar in the sand at the beach with different spades instead of different colors.