Best for this moment
when your toddler needs to move and burn energy, especially when you need an indoor option.
Bear Crawl Race
At a glance: Race across the room on hands and feet like a bear for a full-body workout. A 8-minute, high-energy indoor activity for ages 18m–4y. No prep needed.
Get down on all fours — hands and feet, not knees — and race your toddler from one end of the room to the other. The bear crawl position engages the whole body simultaneously and is surprisingly tiring for adults too. Adding different animal crawls each round keeps it fresh and builds movement vocabulary.
Parent tip
Start before you overthink it. No-prep activities work best when you begin while the moment is still recoverable.
What success looks like
A good outcome is a few minutes of engaged play, some back-and-forth with you, and a small sign of progress in body awareness.
More help for this situation
Meltdowns and tantrums
Meltdown
Start with calm regulation, then move to a simple activity that helps the moment settle.
Read the meltdown guideInstructions
- Clear a stretch of floor — a hallway works perfectly
- Demonstrate the bear crawl: hands and feet on the floor, bottom in the air, walking forwards
- Line up at the starting point together: 'Ready, steady, go!'
- Race to the other end and back — cheer each other on
- Try different crawls: crab walk sideways, frog jumps, caterpillar inchworm
- Add obstacles to crawl around — cushions, chairs, shoes
- Finish with a slow sloth crawl to bring energy levels back down
Why it helps
The bear crawl position loads weight through the shoulders, wrists, and core simultaneously, building the upper-body stability that underpins later fine motor skills like handwriting. Crossing the midline with contralateral crawling — opposite hand and foot moving together — also strengthens the connections between the brain's hemispheres, supporting coordination and cognitive development.
Variations
- Set up a relay course with different animal crawls at each section — bear, crab, frog, worm.
- Play 'animal freeze' — call out an animal and everyone must move like it until you call the next.
- Race while carrying a stuffed animal on your back without dropping it.
Safety tips
- Ensure the floor surface is not slippery — bare feet work better than socks for grip.
- Clear the path of small toys, books, or hard objects that could hurt hands or knees.
- Supervise younger toddlers who may tumble forward as they build arm strength.
When to pause and seek extra support
Stop if your child becomes distressed, unsafe, or consistently frustrated by the activity. If play, behaviour, or development worries keep showing up across settings, check in with a qualified professional.
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