Big Air Shapes

coordination activity for kids 3+

Draw shapes in the air with a straight arm while the eyes follow the hand.

Area: Body & Coordination
Age: age 3+
Duration: 3-5 min

In short

Big Air Shapes is a standing movement activity that only needs a card on the wall and some space. Your child draws the shapes in the air with an outstretched arm while the eyes follow the hand. Even preschoolers can join in. It practices big shoulder movements, crossing the middle of the body and eye-hand coordination.

What you need

Printouttemplate on A4
A walland some tape

How to play

Tape the card to the wall at chest height.

The full instructions are in the printable pack

3 more steps and 3 ideas to make it harder in the printable pack

All further steps and the ideas to make it harder are in the printable pack, together with all sheets to print.

See the printable pack

When it fits

In the morning before preschool, when your child is still sleepy and needs to get going.
After sitting for a long time, for example after a car ride or an afternoon of crafts at the table.
In the bedroom or hallway on days when playing outside doesn't work out.

What your child practices

Gross motor control
Crossing the midline
Eye-hand coordination

Many everyday movements cross the middle of the body, such as getting dressed, coloring across a whole page or, later, writing a line from left to right. Occupational therapy blogs describe movement games for this in which one arm travels from one side to the other. In Big Air Shapes, this happens standing up and in big arcs, without any pencil.