Motor Planning: The Hidden Skill Behind “I Can Do It!”
Motor planning—often called praxis in occupational therapy—is the brain’s ability to imagine, organize, and carry out a new or unfamiliar movement. It’s what helps a student figure out how to climb onto playground equipment, open a tricky lunch container, copy a new dance move in gym class, or learn how to form letters efficiently.
When motor planning is strong, kids can watch, try, adjust, and succeed with less effort. When it’s challenging, everyday tasks can feel confusing, slow, or frustrating—even for bright, motivated students. The good news is that motor planning can be supported through playful, intentional practice.
What Motor Planning Challenges Can Look Like at School
Motor planning difficulties don’t always show up as “clumsiness.” Sometimes they look like avoidance, hesitation, or behavior that adults misread as not trying. Occupational therapists look closely at the patterns behind the struggle.
- Trouble starting tasks (freezes, watches others, needs repeated prompts)
- Difficulty learning new movements (needs many demonstrations, can’t imitate easily)
- Looks uncoordinated during transitions (lining up, navigating crowded hallways)
- Struggles with multi-step routines (coat on, backpack zipped, lunchbox packed)
- Inconsistent performance (can do it one day, can’t the next)
- Becomes easily frustrated when tasks require trial-and-error
Motor planning challenges can also overlap with sensory processing needs, attention differences, low muscle tone, anxiety, or limited experience with certain movement opportunities. That’s why OT support is most effective when it’s individualized and integrated into real school routines.
How Occupational Therapy Supports Motor Planning
Occupational therapy helps students build motor planning by combining:
- Body awareness (knowing where body parts are in space)
- Bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body together)
- Sequencing (planning steps in the right order)
- Timing and rhythm (coordinating movement smoothly)
- Grading force (not too hard, not too soft)
- Confidence through repetition in meaningful activities
In school-based OT, the goal is practical: help kids participate more independently in learning, play, self-care, and classroom routines.
Motor Planning Activities Kids Can Practice (OT-Inspired and School-Friendly)
Below are motor planning activities that can be adapted for classrooms, therapy sessions, or home routines. Choose a starting level where the child can succeed with a little challenge—then increase complexity slowly.
1) Obstacle Courses (Gross Motor Planning)
Obstacle courses are a motor planning powerhouse because they require kids to organize their body, sequence steps, and adjust on the fly.
- Simple course ideas: crawl under a table, step over a line of books, hop to a target, toss a beanbag into a bin
- Add “plan first” practice: show a picture sequence or draw a quick map of the course
- Increase challenge: change the order, add a timer, or include “stop/go” cues
OT tip: Use consistent language such as “first, next, last” to support sequencing and reduce overwhelm.
2) “Copy Me” Movement Games (Imitation and Praxis)
Imitation is a key building block for motor planning. These games make it fun and low-pressure.
- Mirror movements: “Do what I do” with arms, legs, and whole-body poses
- Animal walks: bear walk, crab walk, frog jumps, inchworm
- Freeze dance: move to music, then freeze in a specific shape (star, triangle, tall, small)
OT tip: Start with big, slow movements. Many students need extra processing time before they can coordinate a response.
3) Simon Says with a Twist (Sequencing and Working Memory)
Classic Simon Says becomes a motor planning activity when you add multi-step directions.
- Begin with one-step actions (touch head, clap hands)
- Move to two-step sequences (touch head then jump)
- Try three-step sequences for advanced students (touch shoulders, spin, sit)
OT tip: Pair verbal directions with visual cues (pictures or gestures) for students who benefit from multi-modal input.
4) Playground Practice (Real-Life Motor Planning)
The playground is a natural setting for motor planning: climbing, balancing, jumping, and navigating moving peers.
- Practice “route planning” on climbing structures (where to place hands and feet next)
- Use chalk footprints to guide a hopscotch path
- Play “follow the leader” around equipment with predictable patterns
OT tip: Some kids avoid playgrounds because uncertainty feels risky. A short, structured “practice plan” can build confidence quickly.
5) Fine Motor Planning Through Crafts and Building
Motor planning isn’t only gross motor. Fine motor planning supports handwriting, tool use, and classroom participation.
- Build with blocks or interlocking bricks using a model to copy
- Create a simple craft with steps (fold, glue, add stickers, write name)
- Use lacing cards or stringing beads in a pattern
OT tip: Provide a finished example and a step-by-step visual. Many students do better when they can “see the plan.”
6) Everyday “Life Skills” Routines (Functional Praxis)
Some of the best motor planning practice happens during daily routines—because the motivation is real and the skill transfers directly.
- Opening containers, zippers, and snack packages
- Putting on a coat using the “flip trick” (lay coat on floor, arms in, flip over head)
- Packing a backpack using a checklist (folder, lunch, water bottle)
OT tip: Reduce verbal prompting over time. Replace “do this” with “what’s your first step?” to build independence.
7) Drawing, Mazes, and Pre-Writing Paths (Planning and Control)
For some kids, planning a movement path on paper is a great bridge to planning movements in space.
- Mazes (start with wide paths, then narrow)
- Dot-to-dot pictures
- Road maps: draw a “road” and drive a small toy car along it
OT tip: If a child presses too hard or too lightly, add “just right pressure” games (e.g., coloring with short crayons, using a mechanical pencil, or writing on a clipboard).
How to Make Motor Planning Activities More Effective
Motor planning improves best when practice is intentional and supportive—not rushed. These strategies can help adults set kids up for success.
- Use predictable routines (same warm-up, same order, small changes over time)
- Teach one new variable at a time (new movement or new environment, not both)
- Offer “just enough” help (model first, then fade prompts)
- Celebrate effort and strategy (“You tried a new way,” “You kept going”) rather than speed
- Build in repetition without boredom (same skill, different theme: animals, superheroes, sports)
When to Consider Occupational Therapy Support
If a student’s motor planning challenges are interfering with participation—during PE, recess, classroom tool use, self-care routines, or handwriting—an occupational therapy evaluation can clarify what’s happening and what supports will help.
School-based OT often focuses on practical outcomes such as:
- Improved independence with classroom routines
- Better participation in play and physical activities
- Increased comfort with new tasks and transitions
- Stronger fine motor skills for learning tasks
How Online OT Can Help Schools Support Motor Planning
Online occupational therapy can be a strong fit for motor planning support when it’s paired with clear goals, collaborative staff involvement, and activities that translate to the student’s daily environments. Therapists can coach school teams on how to set up obstacle courses, adapt classroom tools, use visual supports, and track progress in functional skills.
For schools, this can mean more consistent service delivery, flexible scheduling, and practical strategies that teachers and families can carry over between sessions.
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