Zigzag Lines

Zig Zag as a pathway appears in many sports and team games; skiing, dribbling in hockey, ducking and weaving in ball games. Changing directions whilst moving at a pace is described at agility and is important in many running games.

Seeing the patterns, and then using the patterns in their movement experiences gives them the foundation for when they search for a way to navigate through obstacles.

I used masking tape to make one zigzag line on the rug. We then walked along it, pushed toy cars along it and then stepped, ran and jumped over it. Many creative suggestions were put forward regarding how one might travel along and/or over it.

This activity took place over the course of the day. The zigzag line was put in place at breakfast. Allowing plenty of time for the inspiration and ideas to flow through and then the opportuntiy to return to the activity results in richness in the results - one of the many benefits of doing PhysEd at home.

Also, a larger carpeted area would have also been handy.

Kindayoga

While on the topic of DVDs...there is one other we like to put on and follow along whilst still in our pyjamas.

KindaYoga.- Jungle Story Vol 1. Found here.

I have been attending Yoga classes - albeit inconsistently - over the past ten years and so have built up knowledge and experience of how it is best delivered to those new to and still discovering it.

It is very child friendly and introduces yoga in a very fun and appropriate way.

I particularly love the quiet breathing.

We can now do some of the poses without the DVD - and practise it together on the grass in the backyard. I have also borrowed the breathing technique when the need to bring the energy/anxiety level down a few notches arises.

So, Kindayoga is with us all the time.

Line Jumping

Using any line on the floor, this activity develops laterality, Left and Right Concepts, directionality, static and dynamic balance and creativity.

A masking tape could be used on the floor to mark the line.  The line could be anywhere from 1 m to 4 m. This could be done with one child or small groups.

Ask your little one to listen and look up at you when you are directing. Pause until you have their attention before you begin instructions.

The instructions are:
Jump over the line; forwards, backwards. Take off and land on two feet in a controlled manner.
Jump over the line and do a quarter turn whilst in the air, turn to the left/and or right.
Jump over the line by taking off on one foot and land on two feet.
With feet side by side, jump from one side to the other - forward and backwards.
Straddle with feet on either side of the line and jog with high knee raises along the length of the line

What combination of the above could be put together in a routine?
How else could the line be traversed? crossed?

Make up a little song or rap to help remember the routine.

Monkey Bar Magic

As a kid, I spent a great deal of time just hanging around the school monkey bars. Like most primary school girls at the time, I had callouses at the base of my fingers on my palms.

So today, I was quite pleased when my Preschooler showed me how she could hang and bring her legs up between her hands and hang. A fellow kinder had showed her how to it.

There were big smiles.

I was keen to show her other tricks but exercised restraint. Because I still clearly remember the many hours I spent under the bars, I do not underestimate power of the peer and the value of peer teaching on the monkey bars.

The photo above is an example of the set up at the kindergarten. There were two trestles like this one with a monkey ladder across them for hanging etc. I love the climbing wall.

This combination along with a set of parallel bars would be a perfect set up for any small backyard.

Musical Freeze!

If you have a gathering of little-ones this weekend the 'Freeze' game would be a fun activity to get everyone running around and working off the candy in their systems. You will need some music and each child will need their own bubble space to begin.

Musical Freeze - play some music and encourage the kiddos to dance. When the music stops - Freeze immediately and hold it.

Award prizes - candy/stickers/erasers etc. Declare out loud to group what the winner did well. This gives feedback to the rest of the group and cues the learner to how to improve their performance for the next round.

Happy Halloween for those who celebrate it!

Angry Cats...

We usually do a bit of dancing in the mornings - it is a great way to get the heart rate up for little ones and adults alike. Any music with a good beat will do - sometimes it is children's music but most times it is adult music.

I find it is a good way to lift the tone of the day and it serves as a great way to warm-up before we do physical activity.

But since we have been building upon our strength and flexibility with Tuck sits etc...I have introduced the cats to our warm ups.

There is 'Scaredy Cat'. Arch the back so the belly is towards the floor. Arms and legs are parallel (straight up and down) and perpendicular (makes a strong corner) to the floor. Look up towards the ceiling and roar like an scary lion. Hold for a long roar. Repeat a handful of times.

There is 'Angry Cat'. Arch the back up high - imagine there is a string pulling the curve of the back up high towards the ceiling (like the string that Woody from Toy Story has on his back). Put the chin-to-chest, arms/legs parallel and perpendicular to the floor. Hold for a long angry hiss. Repeat a handful of times.

And then there is 'Copy Cat'. Introducing our very much loved, newest member of the gymnastics team. Not a bad effort for someone with a toddler fracture!!!

There is always lots of clapping for Copy Cats.

Rock and Roll in Tuck sits

We have been practicing Tuck sits and V Sits. The natural progression is to rock back and forth gently using the toes to push off. Allow this to happen and build on this rocking action but encourage strong arms around the legs.

After several sessions of this, enough momentum can be built up which leads to rolling onto the back. With arms held tight around the legs, the back is nicely curved which allows for rocking forward after rolling backwards.

Build up the momentum first.

Give it a try yourself. It is a lot of fun.

Walking Stilts

I love these walking stilts. I wish they would take my weight as I would love to use them.

It has taken a while for her to be comfortable on them. I wish I had presented this to her first madebyjoel - toddler-stilts

But as my Preschooler gained confidence balancing on them, I have become increasingly creative with path I create for her. I trace/draw various figures/lines on the driveway or mat. Figure of eights, zig zag lines, wavy lines etc.

We try sideways, backwards, small steps, large steps, cross over/grapevine etc...

Lots of quiet (concentrating) fun - which gives me about 30 minutes or so to carry out essential tasks like cook dinner/play with my toddler/tackle the washing?

These stilts are made for walking..

Tuck sit and V sit

We have been very inspired here by the gymnastics, the diving and the athletics from the Commonwealth Games. It is such delight to see the positive impression it is making on our Preschooler.
While we watch the broadcast, we discuss the names of the skills being displayed and talk about how the athlete would have started to learn how to do it.

After watching some gymnastics today, we did some very basic static balances.....just to capitalize on the momentum. Strike while the iron is hot!

Doing Tuck sits and V sits at home strengthens and conditions the muscles in the body.

Tuck Sit; Bring knees to chest, and balance on sitting bones. Should be able to rock back and forth.

V Sit; sit with straight back and legs, form the letter V by engaging the stomach muscles.

I also talk about the persistence and the commitment required to be able to perform at an elite level.

There will be more toddler/preschool gymnastics over the next few days.

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.

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.

"Find a spot of your own...."

Finding a bit of space that is safe and unobstructed before any exercise is to be commenced is important in a group setting. It is also important when doing exercises at home in amongst the coffee table and the couch as well as with little brothers running around.

Just as I do when working with students, I have used the magic of 'imagination' to my advantage to teach my Preschooler how to find her own space.

I tell her to imagine she is in a big magic bubble...but just like regular bubbles it pops if bumped into so it must be kept away from other bubbles and furniture etc.  Make the bubble bigger by pushing the front of the  bubble out - hands outstretched. Push out the sides - body in a wide star shape. Push it up - reaching up high on tippy toes. (The bubble does not burst under the feet because it is magic). Look around and check that your bubble is not going to bump into anything. If you think your bubble might bump into anything, find a different spot.

This works whenever there is a need to spread out in a defined area - big or small. After a while, finding a spot of their own is as simple as finding your own bubble space.

It is necessary to tell little ones that there is air in bubbles...no need to hold your breath.

 

You can not stop our apple fun

We love Dr Seuss books here..they are fantastic read-aloud books.

'Ten Apples Up On Top' is a good resource for teaching numeracy as well being a good title for the early reader.

For our Preschooler however, just counting the apples on each page to concur with the text proved to be enticing.

From there, we started to look for things to balance on our heads. Fortunately, I happened to have small Bean Bags ready for just that purpose.

Balancing a Bean Bag on the head promotes good posture and develops balance and control. Head held still and eyes straight ahead are necessary reminders.

Once this is achieved, encourage walking around the room; forwards, sideways, backwards. Suggest bending down to touch the ground, turn around. Then try balancing the Bean Bag on the shoulder, elbow, knee etc.

Combining the Bean Bag balance with 'Heel-Toe walking' would present a very good challenge.

What fun!
We will not
let them fall.

We wish you lots of apple fun.

Heel, Toe, Heel, Toe

Most kids love to walk along brick walls or any wall/edge wide enough to safely hold their weight. Whenever we are out and about and have the opportunity to, we always take it. It is fun and a great way to enjoy the outdoors.

When we are at home though, masking tape on the carpet or rug serves as a visual wall for heel toe walking. The heel of each next step touches the toe of the foot behind. My Pre-Schooler has just started to do this and at this initial stage, great concentration is required to succeed at this task. Gentle encouragement is required.

Opportunities to return to the task at her own time has proved to be positive.

Why Heel Toe walking? The action requires controlled coordinated dynamic balance and practicing this type of walking develops this.

Low tack masking tape is better. Experiment with various lengths and don't forget to remove the tape at the end of the session to avoid permanent adhesive stains.