Load a toy wheelbarrow, wagon, or push cart with a few small items -- toys, sticks, stones -- and push it around the yard delivering the cargo to different stops. Unload at each stop before loading up for the next delivery.
What you need
- a toy wheelbarrow, wagon, or push cart
How to do it
- 1Load the wheelbarrow or wagon with a few small items to deliver.
- 2Push it around the yard to a chosen delivery stop.
- 3Unload the cargo there, then load up something new for the next stop.
- 4Repeat the delivery route a few times, picking new destinations each round.
Variations
- If a wheelbarrow isn't available: a laundry basket dragged along a rope works as a simple substitute.
- How it ends: one final big delivery run back to the 'home base' closes the parade.
💡 Parent tip
Let them choose the delivery stops themselves -- having control over the route is often what makes this feel like a real job rather than just pushing a cart.
What your child develops
- Gross motor pushing — steering a loaded cart builds arm and core strength
- Sequencing — planning a route of stops introduces early planning skills
- Imaginative play — the delivery framing turns simple pushing into a story with purpose
Safety notes
- Keep the route clear of steps, slopes, or hazards a loaded cart could tip on.
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