If your kid has ever tried to put their shoes on the wrong feet, walked directly into a doorframe, or attempted to use a fork like a shovel, congratulations—you’ve witnessed motor planning in action. Or, more accurately, you’ve witnessed a slight glitch in the matrix of motor planning.
Motor planning, or praxis if you want to sound like a neuroscientist at a cocktail party, is simply your brain’s ability to conceive, organize, and carry out a sequence of unfamiliar actions. It’s the behind-the-scenes director that tells your body, “Okay, first we pull up the pants, then we stick one leg in—wait, not that leg, the other leg.”
For a lot of kids, especially those who are a little clumsy, neurodivergent, or just still figuring out how to human, this doesn’t come naturally. They have the idea of what they want to do, but the message gets scrambled on the way to their limbs. The result? Meltdowns over putting on a jacket, or a trail of spilled milk that would make a dairy farmer cry.
The good news is that motor planning is like a muscle. You can exercise it. And the best part? The exercises are just games. You don’t need flashcards or workbooks. You just need to move. I’ve wrangled my own chaos goblins through enough of these to know what works and what ends with someone crying (usually me). Here are ten activities that actually help.
1. The Obstacle Course Extravaganza
This is the gold standard, folks. It’s not just physical; it’s a mental puzzle.
Why it works: An obstacle course requires a kid to look at a series of objects (pillows, chairs, a tunnel) and figure out the sequence of how to get through them. Do I crawl under the table first, or do I jump over the pillow first? Their brain has to map the route and then execute it.
How we do it: I don’t just set it up and say “go.” I make them help me build it.
“Hey, where should we put the blanket to roll over? Okay, and then what should we do after that?”
By involving them in the design, they’re already planning the movements in their head. Then, the real fun begins. Time them. Tell them to go backward. Tell them to go through it without touching the floor. It forces their brain to constantly re-calculate the motor plan. It’s basically a workout for their brain that looks like a playdate.
2. The “Follow the Leader” Upgrade
Remember playing this as a kid? It was usually just your annoying sibling walking in a straight line. Let’s upgrade it.
The Game: You are the leader. Your job is to move through the house or yard in the weirdest, most complex way possible. Crawl under the dining room table. Do three spins in the living room. Walk backward down the hall. Hop on one foot past the stairs. Balance on a curb.
Your kid has to watch your sequence and then replicate it exactly. This is pure motor planning. They have to visually process your movements, store that information in the correct order, and then convince their own body to do the same thing. IMO, this is way more effective than any tracing worksheet.
3. Pillow Mountain (or Couch Cushion Chaos)
This is less of a structured activity and more of a controlled disaster zone. Pile up every pillow, cushion, and blanket you own.
The Mission: Get from one side of the room to the other without touching the floor.
This sounds simple, but for a kid with motor planning difficulties, it’s a complex engineering problem. Their brain has to figure out: Is that cushion stable? Can I reach that pillow from here? If I step here, will the whole mountain collapse? They are constantly adjusting their plan based on sensory feedback. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it annoys anyone who likes a tidy house. I absolutely love it. 🙂
4. Simon Says (But Meaner)
Classic Simon Says is great, but let’s kick it up a notch. Don’t just say “touch your nose.” Say things that require a sequence or a novel action.
Try these:
- “Simon says pretend to climb a ladder.”
- “Simon says crawl like a crab to the door and back.”
- “Simon says act like you’re putting on a really tight pair of socks.”
These actions require your kid to recall or imagine the motor sequence for something that isn’t happening in the moment. They have to plan the movement of climbing a ladder without a ladder being there. It’s a high-level brain task disguised as a silly game. When Simon doesn’t say something, and they start moving anyway? Well, that’s just a bonus lesson in impulse control.
5. Red Light, Green Light
Another classic that’s secretly a motor planning powerhouse.
Why it works: It’s all about inhibitory control, which is a huge part of motor planning. Your brain has to plan the movement (“Go! Run!”) and then suddenly slam on the brakes and plan a new state (“Stop! Don’t move a muscle!”). That transition is hard for little brains.
To make it even more effective, change the commands. “Green light” means walk backward. “Yellow light” means wiggle in place. “Red light” means freeze like a statue. Now they have to hold multiple motor plans in their head and switch between them instantly. It’s chaotic and hilarious to watch.
6. The Blanket Roll-Up (aka The Burrito)
This is a great one for winding down or for kids who are sensory seekers.
The Activity: Lay a large blanket on the floor. Have your child lie down at one end. Then, slowly roll them up in the blanket like a burrito.
The Motor Planning Twist: Here’s the secret—don’t just roll them. Tell them they have to unroll themselves without using their hands. They have to wiggle, squirm, and roll to freedom. This forces them to figure out how to use their core muscles and coordinate their body in a confined space. It’s proprioceptive input heaven and a serious motor planning challenge. FYI, this is also a miracle worker for calming a hyper kid before bed.
7. “I’m Stuck!” Imaginative Play
This one requires zero setup and is perfect for when you’re stuck in a waiting room or just need a laugh.
How to play: You pretend you are stuck in a giant web (or mud, or glue). You call out to your kid for help. “I’m stuck! My foot is trapped! How do I get out?”
They now have to direct your movements. “No, Mom, lift your other foot! Now reach for that chair! Now pull!” They are literally planning your motor sequence for you. This puts them in the driver’s seat and forces them to think through the steps of a physical action. Plus, it’s a massive ego boost for them to be the one in charge for once.
8. Tape Roads on the Floor
Use painter’s tape (please, for the love of all that is holy, do not use duct tape on your floors) to create roads on the floor.
The Challenge: Have your kid drive a toy car on the road, but with a twist. They have to navigate the car while crawling beside it, or they have to walk along the tape line themselves, placing one foot directly in front of the other.
You can make intersections where they have to stop, look both ways, and plan which direction to go. For older kids, make the roads a maze. They have to visualize the path before they even start moving. It’s a fine motor/ gross motor crossover that works wonders. And the tape peels right up. Usually.
9. Animal Walks
This is a staple in occupational therapy for a reason. It’s goofy, it’s hard, and it targets every muscle group.
The moves:
- Bear walk: Walk on hands and feet, with a straight back and booty in the air.
- Crab walk: Sit down, put hands behind you, and lift your hips to walk on hands and feet.
- Frog jumps: Squat down, touch the floor, and jump forward like a frog.
- Snake slither: Crawl on your belly using only your arms and legs.
Each of these requires a totally different and unfamiliar motor plan for the body. Their brain has to figure out the coordination for a bear, which is completely different from the coordination for a crab. Do a circuit of these across the living room, and they’ll be exhausted in the best way possible.
10. The Parachute Game (With a Tablecloth)
You don’t need an actual parachute. A large bedsheet or tablecloth works perfectly.
How to play: You stand on one side, your kid stands on the other. You both hold the edges and shake it to make “waves.” Then, you call out instructions.
- “Lift it high over our heads!”
- “Get on your knees and shake it low!”
- “Let’s all run under it and sit down before it falls on us!”
The running-under part is the golden ticket for motor planning. They have to time their run, coordinate with you, and understand the spatial concept of getting under the sheet before it lands. It requires timing, sequencing, and body awareness. Plus, it’s impossible to play this game without laughing.
The Takeaway: Just Keep Moving
Look, I’m not an OT. I’m just a parent who has spent way too much time watching my kids struggle to put on a sock that is clearly inside out. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that these skills don’t develop from sitting still. They develop from chaos.
They develop from falling off the couch and figuring out how to get back up. They develop from trying to copy a silly dance move and getting it hilariously wrong. They develop from building a fort and realizing the blanket won’t stay on if you put the chair there.
So, don’t overthink it. Pick one or two of these activities and just try them. If your kid falls over, laugh with them. If they get frustrated, simplify the task. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s just getting the brain and the body to talk to each other a little more clearly.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go dismantle Pillow Mountain before my partner gets home and asks why the living room looks like a hobo camp. Good luck, and may the motor planning odds be ever in your favor.
