Have you ever taken a toddler outside to “get their energy out,” and then they just… sit and smell flowers or watch an ant for half an hour? I’ve seen that with my own children and with my students. Sometimes outside time is when they want to be quiet, reflective, and study nature—so it’s a really good reason to have a few gross motor options indoors too. One- and two-year-olds want to use their bodies in big, strong ways, and when we support movement (along with connection and language), they can access any learning they want. In this video, I share how I set up indoor toddler gross motor play in a truly small space—our classroom “hallway.” Over the years I experimented with letting big movement happen anywhere, but now I like having a defined area so it doesn’t interrupt children who are concentrating. I show the three basic items my students use to build obstacle courses and practice gross motor planning: two vinyl foam cushions (a wedge and a step), solid cork yoga blocks for heavy work and balancing, and circular stepping stones (“circle planks”) that stack and don’t skid. I also talk about simple limits (where the materials can be used, and how to set them down instead of throwing), plus easy DIY swaps like couch cushions or wooden blocks at home.