Parent Learning and Support
Gross Motor and Coordination
Resources to help you understand what sits behind movement, coordination and balance difficulties, and support your child with clarity and confidence.
What it is and why it matters
What it is
Gross motor skills are the larger movements of the body, the ones used for running, jumping, climbing, throwing, catching and balancing. Coordination is how the brain and body organise these movements together, including timing, sequencing, and how the two sides of the body work as a team. These skills develop gradually through everyday movement and play, and they form much of the foundation for confident participation in active games, sport and the playground.
Why it matters
When gross motor and coordination skills are still developing, a child may seem clumsy, avoid active games, tire quickly during movement based play, or hold back from group sport and the playground. This can look like a child who is not sporty, or not trying hard enough. More often, it reflects how much effort certain movements take for that child. Understanding what is contributing to this can change how it is supported.
How these resources help
Rather than more practice or encouragement to push through, the resources on this page help you understand what may be making movement, coordination and balance harder for your child. With that understanding, support at home can be more structured and better matched to what your child needs.
Coming soon
Action, Balance, Core!
Move with Strength, Coordination, and Confidence
Action, Balance, Core! is a structured program for parents who want a clear way to understand and support their child's movement, balance and coordination. It is currently in development, and will bring together what we know about motor planning, balance and how the two sides of the body work together into a step by step approach for home.
Looking for more personalised support?
If you would like individualised assessment and guidance for your child, Skill Sense® OT also offers telehealth occupational therapy services. An assessment is the starting point for tailored, one to one support.
Every child deserves to be understood.
Every parent deserves the tools to help.
© 2026 Skill Sense®
One or two emails a month for parents who want to understand what is happening for their child.
No clutter. No pressure. Unsubscribe at any time.
