Motor Planning Activities for Kids: What Praxis Is and 30 OT Ideas

Motor planning (praxis) explained simply, signs of motor planning difficulties, and 30 OT activities for home, school and therapy.

Pediatrics 10 min read

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Published October 9, 2026

Child moving through an obstacle course to build motor planning

Some children know exactly what they want to do on the climbing frame but can’t work out how to make their body do it. Others watch a dance move again and again and still can’t copy it. These children may have difficulty with motor planning.

What is motor planning (praxis)?

Motor planning, also called praxis, is the brain’s ability to come up with an idea for a movement, plan it, and carry it out. It’s how we learn new physical skills, and how we adapt movements to new situations.

The three parts of motor planning

  1. Ideation

    Having an idea of what to do: "I could climb over that."

  2. Planning

    Working out the steps and order: "Hands here, then this foot, then swing over."

  3. Execution

    Doing it, then adjusting from feedback: "I slipped; next time I'll grip tighter."

Motor planning depends on good body awareness from the proprioceptive, tactile and vestibular systems, as well as attention and memory.

Signs of motor planning difficulties

Area What you might see
New movements Slow to learn new physical skills; needs many demonstrations
Play Avoids playground equipment; plays with the same toys the same way
Self-care Difficulty dressing, fastenings, using cutlery
Sport Trouble with ball games, jumping jacks, skipping, swimming strokes
Copying Difficulty imitating movements or gestures
School Messy handwriting, difficulty with scissors, organising materials
Ideation Unsure what to do with new toys or equipment; waits to be shown

Motor planning difficulties are a core feature of dyspraxia (DCD) and are common in autism.

Grading motor planning activities

Make it harder step by step

Harder ↑

  1. Child invents the activity

    "Make up your own obstacle course."

  2. New sequence, no demo

    Follow spoken instructions only.

  3. New sequence with demonstration

    Watch, then copy a new set of moves.

  4. Familiar sequence, changed order

    Same moves, new order.

  5. Familiar sequence with demonstration

    Practise a known routine with help.

Easier

30 motor planning activities

Whole-body activities (1–12)
Activity Tip
1. Obstacle course Over, under, through; change the order each time
2. Simon Says Add two-step commands: "touch your nose, then jump"
3. Animal walks Bear, crab, frog, kangaroo, snake
4. Copy-the-pose cards Yoga or superhero poses
5. Hopscotch Start with two feet, then hopping
6. Dance sequences Teach 3 moves, then add one
7. Ladder or rope walk Step between rungs forwards, sideways, backwards
8. Balloon keep-up Keep it in the air while walking
9. Musical statues with poses Freeze in a named pose
10. Climbing frame routes "Take a different route today"
11. Jumping patterns on floor spots Feet together, apart, one foot
12. Tunnel and crawl races Change direction
Ball and sport skills (13–18)
Activity Tip
13. Rolling and catching a large ball Then smaller balls
14. Bean bag toss into hoops Change distance
15. Kicking to a target Stop the ball first, then kick
16. Balloon tennis Slower than a ball
17. Bouncing and catching Count bounces
18. Mini golf with a paper ball Planning force and direction
Fine motor and construction (19–25)
Activity Tip
19. Build a block tower from a picture Start with 3 blocks
20. Lego from instructions Step-by-step plans
21. Copy a bead pattern Visual sequence
22. Paper folding (simple origami) Follow steps
23. Playdough models from a photo Snake, ball, snowman
24. Lacing cards Over–under pattern
25. Drawing from step-by-step guides Directed drawing
Daily life practice (26–30)
Activity Tip
26. Dressing in steps Use a picture sequence
27. Making a sandwich Plan, gather, make, clean up
28. Packing a school bag from a checklist Planning and sequencing
29. Laying the table Where does each item go?
30. Tidying up into labelled boxes Sorting and carrying

How occupational therapy helps

An occupational therapist assesses motor planning, coordination and sensory processing, sometimes using tests such as the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2) or praxis tests. Therapy may combine:

  • Task-oriented practice, such as the CO-OP approach (Goal–Plan–Do–Check), which has strong evidence for children with DCD
  • Sensory-rich activities to build body awareness, using sensory integration principles where appropriate
  • Grading and visual supports at home and school

Summary

Motor planning is the ability to think of, plan and carry out new movements. When it’s hard, children may seem clumsy or avoid new physical activities. Fun, graded activities like obstacle courses, Simon Says and building from models, together with clear strategies, help children learn. Read more about bilateral coordination and crossing the midline.

References

  • Ayres AJ. Sensory Integration and the Child. 25th anniversary ed. Western Psychological Services.
  • Bundy AC, Lane SJ, eds. Sensory Integration: Theory and Practice. 3rd ed. F.A. Davis.
  • Blank R, Barnett AL, Cairney J, et al. International clinical practice recommendations on the definition, diagnosis, assessment, intervention, and psychosocial aspects of developmental coordination disorder. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. 2019;61(3):242–285.
  • Polatajko HJ, Mandich A. Enabling Occupation in Children: The CO-OP Approach. CAOT Publications ACE.

Frequently asked questions

What is motor planning?
Motor planning, or praxis, is the brain's ability to think of a movement idea, plan the steps and order, and carry them out smoothly. It's what lets us learn new physical skills like riding a bike, tying shoelaces or doing a new dance.
What are signs of motor planning difficulties?
Difficulty learning new movements, seeming clumsy, trouble with dressing or fastenings, avoiding playground equipment or sports, difficulty copying movements, needing lots of demonstrations, and preferring familiar routines and toys.
What causes motor planning problems?
Motor planning difficulties are common in developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia) and autism, and can also relate to sensory processing differences, especially poor body awareness from proprioceptive and tactile systems.
What are good motor planning activities for kids?
Obstacle courses, Simon Says, animal walks, copying movement sequences, dance games, hopscotch, building with blocks or Lego from a model, playground circuits, ball games, and craft activities that follow steps.
How do occupational therapists help with motor planning?
An OT assesses motor planning, body awareness and coordination, then uses graded activities, task-oriented practice such as CO-OP, visual and verbal strategies, and sensory-rich input to help children learn new motor skills.

Written by

Payal Mehta is a practising occupational therapist and co-founder of Occupational Therapy OT. She writes on pediatrics, sensory integration, and mental-health practice.

All articles by Payal →

This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized assessment or treatment by a licensed occupational therapist. Always seek the guidance of a qualified professional for specific concerns.

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