O-Balls - very catchy

We have just returned from a fabulous trip to the USA.  It was a fabulous trip for many reasons but here I will write about the fabulous thing I found whilst wandering the aisles of Wallmart looking for Fritos.

O-balls...in the childrens toy section for a couple of dollars. Found here.

The design of O-balls means it can be used to scaffold the skill of catching. It allows the learner to grasp the ball upon contact with much greater success. Whilst they do roll away once dropped, they do not bounce all over which means less time chasing the ball around. They can be used instead of tennis balls in many throwing and catching games and activities.

Discourage the hooking of fingers through it whilst throwing.

I loved them so much I bought four of them. I highly recommend them.

Jumping Jills

We are jumping for joy with excitement around here.

When the excitement can not be contained any longer...we do Jumping Jills (aka Jacks).

At this initial stage, it is done on the cues of 'soldier', pause, 'Jill'. The soldier position is standing tall with a comfortably straight posture. The Jill (or Jack) position is arms out to the side like a star as are the legs, except that the knees are bent. Bending the knee and keeping it soft and well oiled is much kinder to the joint - a good habit to get into.

Little brothers posting balls under legs is an optional extra.

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I am having a little break until Wednesday the 29th September. Until then, happy jumping!

Jack be nimble, Jack be quick...

We do lots of jumping here - a great way to spend energy and develop leg muscles at the same time.

Standing Broad Jumps are a great way to build power in the legs and is used as a measure of leg strength in fitness tests. It was once an Olympic event - and it is also a lot of fun.

I use anti-slip mats from the $2 dollar shop cut into shapes to cue the little ones to their beginning and landing positions when I introduce this. It helps to stop them from slipping upon landing, and since it is soft, it encourages landing with soft, well oiled knees.

Begin with two  feet together - slightly apart. Use arms to propel forward and push off on both legs, jump and land in front on both feet without loosing balance. The idea is to increase the distance traveled with each try. Experimentation with size of arm swing and angle of torso is encouraged.

Landing with soft bendy knees with arms in the the position of a motorbike rider is important.

We do this to the nursery rhyme and use a prop for the candle.

Give it a go yourself.
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Balloon Cover giveaway still available to the first two comments to come in - get in quick.

Rock, Bridge, Tree Relay

Every PE teacher has a  few favourite games they revert to. I would like to share one of mine here -albeit modified for my little one and her friends. This game develops fitness, reinforces their understanding of position/direction words, improves teamwork, spatial awareness and coordination . It is also a lot of fun.

The actual game is a relay race - teams of four are spaced along a line. One member of the team is the Runner, one is a Rock, one is a Bridge, and one is the Tree. The runner sprints to and jumps over the Rock, crawls under the bridge and circles the Tree - sprinting in between. Then the members of the team change roles.

This is how I modified it for my Preschooler and her friends.

Practice the positions first; as well as transitioning form Rock to Bridge to Tree. Nominate a Preschooler to be a runner who stands with me at home base, while the other Preschooler is about 5m away in the shape of the Rock.

 On the word "Go", the runner runs to the Rock, jumps over it and runs back to me for a high five.

 

 Meanwhile the Rock turns into a Bridge. Immediately after the high five, the runner sprints to the Bridge, crawls under it and returns to me for another high five.

Meanwhile, the Bridge turns into a Tree. Immediately after the high five, the runner sprints back to the Tree and runs around it before returning home for the final high five.

 Swap roles.

Adjust the running distance to allow for the appropriate amount of time between the home base and the Rock, Bridge, Tree. Take the opportunity to emphasize the position/direction words written above in bold.

There will be huffing and puffing in amidst all the laughter.

It's Catching

Introducing the skill of catching to little ones with a balloon ball allows the components of the task to be learned without the closing of eyes at the critical point.

The ability to track the ball as it approaches the catcher is developed during the preschool and early primary school years. This has more to do with biology than training. Until then, a toddler/preschooler will naturally close their eyes as the ball enters their personal space.

Slowing the ball down as it approaches the learner is one way to authentically teach the components of the task by scaffolding the learning of this skill. When readiness is shown, increase the rate of approach by removing the balloon cover and introducing increasingly heavier balls.

It is a far less traumatic approach to learning how to catch . Many students reach the middle primary school years still habitually closing their eyes just before contact is made between the ball and the hands. This derails the learning process with the end result being decreasing confidence and possibly reluctance to continue participation.

While it is certainly possible to unlearn the habits formed through learning to catch ineffectively, it is the loss of opportunity to enjoy, participate, build upon skills and derive confidence from being able to catch competently that is disappointing for any physical education specialist.

So here are my tips to accompany the use of balloon balls;

1. Begin with hands outstretched, palms up. "More please!"

2. Hug the ball to the chest.

3. High fives all round

4. Smile with pride

N.B. Even with a balloon ball, the eyes will initially close momentarily. It is a reflex action to the approaching ball. Soon the eyes will track the ball into the hands with increasing confidence.

One Potato, Two Potato...

........Three Potatos, Four

Balloons can be a lot of fun on their own without covers.

Balloon Covers

Some readers may have guessed that the ball used in yesterday's post (No Chicken Wings! September 6th 2010) was not a ball at all.

It was in fact a balloon inside a homemade balloon cover. This is, in my opinion the essential tool for scaffolding the learning of throwing and catching for toddlers and preschoolers.

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• Balloons inside a cover makes it slightly heavier but still retaining its loftiness. This gives the learner - whose ability to track the ball with their eyes is just developing - greater success at following the ball into their hands.
• Being soft and light, when the ball is headbutted, it does not derail the whole experience.
• When the balloon bursts - it will be loud but not likely to cause any other injuries. The knot can be tucked or hidden away - this is not shown in the picture above. (N.B. take care to account for all pieces of the balloon if it does pop - choking hazard).
• It can be used safely indoors which facilitates practice any time.
• Balloons and its cover take up very little space making it an ideal item to pack on excursions and holidays.
• Homemade balloons can be made to size.

I am a fan of balloon covers and have two to giveaway. The best comment/feedback about this blog between now and next Tuesday will win a Balloon Cover.Please include your email so I can contact you.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

"No Chicken Wings"

I taught my Preschooler the chest pass just after her third birthday. As soon as she showed a hint of interest, I pounced on the opportunity.

I am often surprised by the number of 6, 7 and 8 year old girls fumbling and being ill at ease when they have a ball in their hands, so I wanted to get this one right for my preschooler. Girls who do not have sound ball skills by Year 3 show reluctance to take part in games and activities due to their feelings of incompetence.

I think the chest pass is the ideal starting point when it comes to the teaching of throwing.  Here is why.

Even in the first stage of learning this skill (cognitive stage), learners can use it in games and activities. It requires both hands and develops upper body strength evenly. It can be easily mastered and subsequently, gives the thrower a great early boost.

Some pointers:

• Choose a soft, light ball that is their chest size.
• Hold the ball with the fingers spread out and pointing up.
• Begin with the ball held at chest height and close to the chest.
• Keep elbows comfortably close to the body; "no chicken wings"

• Push the ball to the target.
• Point the fingers at the target after the ball is released.
• I would add "step when you throw" at Prep level or when outside (heavier) balls are used. This is where the weight is transferred from the foot at the back to the dominant foot out in front.

Some activities:

• Throw the ball against the ball; aiming at a target
• Play two-person poison ball - ask them to throw the ball at you...and if they hit you with it...it is a point to them. Change the rules to make it harder or easier as their skills progress
• .Throw whilst sitting, kneeling and standing and standing on one foot,  
• Throw for distance; measure the distance by doing the Heel Toe walk
• Always demonstrate and model the action - 'do as you  say/say as you do'

Good night Inchy Inchworm

I can imagine that just about now, bed time routines are being enacted in every household inhabited by toddlers, preschoolers and primary aged children.

Our bedtime routine involves; milk, teddy bear biscuit (or more than one if the behaviour warrants it) books - usually three - and occasionally some gymnastics.

I have been encouraging my Preschooler to do different 'animal walks' to build upper body strength. With Spring, comes many more opportunities to visit the park and make use of a wider range of equipment. Playgrounds for preschoolers provide greater and more exciting challenges.

So we have been preparing for it by building upper body strength - nothing too serious...just lots of opportunities to support her own body weight. Animal walks are great for this.

This evening, we said good night to our 'Inchy Inchworm'.

1. Begin with hands and feet on the floor as close together as possible.

Bottoms in the air and legs as straight as comfortably possible..

2. Keeping the feet still, walk the hands out until then are under the chest.

3. Now, keeping the hands still, walk the feet towards the hands.

4. Repeat

Music and Movement...

...go together like a Horse and Carriage. Where would Early Childhood Education be without it?

Children LOVE it, every early childhood educator would have to admit they get a kick out of it, and I am pretty sure parents dig it too.

And there are so many 'music and movement' offerings on the market - some more music than movement. Where to begin?

Here is my recommendation:

This is the blurb:
These field-tested "learning through movement" activities encourage eye-hand, aural-motor, and visual motor coordination. They also develop body image, balance, laterality, directionality, and visual perception. Easy to introduce to your class, the activities do not require partners or constant teacher direction. 

You can hear samples of each track from Perceptual Motor Rhythm Games 
Check out the track Move Like A Machine (Electronic) and Clap and Shake #1 (Ballin' The Jack) with voice cues.

I bet you won't be able to stop grinning and tapping your toes.

Have a listen and drop me a line to tell me what you think - especially if you try it on your little ones.

What about you? Do you have a recommendation you would like to share? Click on the word 'comment' at the end of the post. I would love to hear from you.

Rebound ball fun

First day of Spring was marked with rain - lots of it. When it was not raining, it was too wet to be outside.

The garden got a good soak but needless to say, we experienced a bit of cabin fever.

Thankfully, I spotted our super bouncy rebound ball. It saved the afternoon. If you have (or know of) a recent walker and have yet to (re)discover this, I could not recommend it enough. Give it a gentle bounce down the hallway and watch the glee that results as it is chased, then searched for and returned to you for more.

This one is large so the concern regarding  toddlers mouthing it relates more to cleanliness (lack of it) than choking. Our Toddler here has yet to discover his own strength so there was no problem with him damaging anything.

Still...all breakables were safely tucked away.