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.

'What's the time Mr Wolf?'

Lunch time!!

Today, whilst on an excursion to the zoo, we stumbled upon a beautiful bit of outdoor space in our search for a spot to sit for lunch. A patch of grass, dappled shade, trees, shrubs - just perfect for a game of 'What's the time Mr Wolf".

My Preschooler had a turn at being the Wolf first. Counting is a really big 'thing' right now. 13 was the call - so she only had a couple of calls before I was right upon her. When I was close enough, I snatched the hat and ran back to base (which was the stroller). Not bad since I had my toddler in my arms.

When it was my turn (with the toddler still in my arms) I included my toddler into the game by holding up his fingers to represent the time ie. number of steps to be taken. Since the numbers we chose were small, we had several calls to make. At the call of lunchtime, we chased the Preschooler back to base - safe to play another time.
 
 It does not take long for the enthusiastic to learn the strategy and rules of the game. The wolf lures the participants close enough to him so that he can call out 'lunchtime' and catch someone. The participants tries to get as close to the wolf as possible to steal his 'treasure' (in my case, it was the hat - but a ball or scarf tucked into the pants would be safer) and return to the safety of the 'base' - usually a line (or in my case, the stroller).

Lots of fun.

This game is so perfect for Preschoolers as it involves few rules, counting, singing, estimating space, strategic thinking, anticipation, developing reaction time, agility - gleefulness. Having a turn at being the Wolf also builds self esteem.

I usually play this game with larger groups but as I found out today, it worked with just the three of us.

And now, it is bed time.

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.

Musical Hoops

Today we had several little ones running around the backyard with Hula Hoops whilst mums waited patiently to reacquainted themselves with the skill.

I was reminded of a game I play in a Physical Education class setting - but it would work as a party game. As yet, I have not played it in a social setting but I am pretty sure it would be a winner.

Musical Hoops - it is a non elimination game and involves hoops, children, and music or a musical instrument. Begin with a ratio of 3 students to every hoop. When the music begins, the children run, skip, gallop. When the music stops, they are to stop also and move into a hoop. It is a cooperation game so as many as possible is permitted in the hoop. Each time the music stops - remove a hoop and the game becomes a little more interesting as the group works as a whole to squeeze many people into the diminishing number of hoops.

Every time I play this game, I am uplifted - as are the students - by the spirit of cooperation and goodwill in the room.

There is only one rule - no body part is on floor outside the hoop...everything else is accepted. Try it out on adults.

Hula Hoop fun #2

With the weather being so enticing we have been spending late afternoons out in the backyard - our Preschooler gets really involved in her role playing, today it was making chocolate - aka mud - smoothies and our Toddler limps around with his wagon (still with a toddler fracture) and me working in the garden.

The hula hoops hang at the ready on the back porch and I have found them to be a very fun way to break up the tedious back breaking work of weeding on my hands and knees.

I can not remember learning how to hula hoop...so I performed a search for instructions that covered what I know about this skill. Why reinvent the wheel?

• Hold the hoop at the waist with one hand on either side of it.
• Position feet slightly wider than hip width apart.
• Move one foot a bit in front of the other.
• Move the hoop so that it is touching one hip.
• Spin the hoop and let go to set it spinning around the middle of the body.
• Shift weight from one foot to the other, making hips rock from side to side.
• Coordinate movements so that the hip bumps the hoop as it rotates.
• Persistence

Point number 8 is my contribution. I must say that at this early stage of learning this skill, it almost seems an impossible task. But as I told my little one today...we are not born knowing how to do everything. We all have to learn how to do things...small steps first, and then a lot of practice.

The above is the basic method but the hoops can be rotated over the wrists, arms, legs, thighs, and shoulders. Once the basic movement is mastered it is possible to move the hoop up and down the body without stopping the rotation.




"...try, have a go, try again, keep trying, don't stop trying, take a break and go back to it.."

Hula Hoop fun

 

I have hula hoops of various sizes at home and have generally used them as targets on the ground or tied to the fence. Yesterday however, I was reminded of using them for its intended purpose -  hula hooping around the waist.

When I was younger, I could hula hoop for long periods but today, I found it quite tricky to keep the momentum going. Still, it was impressive to my Preschooler

Of course, she wanted to learn. We began by using the hula hoop on the arm...much more success that way. It gave her the opportunity to feel the force of the hoop traveling in the opposite direction to the arm - scaffolding the experience.

Lots of fun...I had to stop myself from taking over. Had so much fun, I did not get a chance to pick up the camera.  

Have on hand various sizes of hoops to suit the hooper.

Happy hooping!

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.

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.

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.

Stars and Rockets

Hello Blog world...

This is my very first post...and if things go well for us I shall be here week-daily with an update of the PhysEd fun we have here. I am committing to this blog for a year and in that time, I hope to lay out some semblance of a course for PE at home for parents to use as a guide.

And so I am beginning with 'Stars and Rockets'. When my daughter was two and a bit she eagerly copied and remembered how to make her body into the shape of a star and a rocket. Toddlers are very keen to please and love to model. Initially, pointers were required to assist her to straighten her arms and keep her back straight, but now at the age of four, she can very confidently get into and hold these positions.



Why did I bother to do this? Well, it develops body awareness, strength, posture.... and when my daughter started ballet and swimming lessons, these positions were often used in the instructions. The confidence derived from knowing what to do and understanding directions gives the learner a tremendous boost. Knowing the basics allows them direct their energies to build upon their skills.

The 'rocket' is standing with the feet together, arms held up straight above the head like a rocket. It is enough to aim for the biceps to be over the ears for preschoolers.


So, I am looking forward to teaching my 18month old son to do the same soon. It has had the unintended but fantastic benefit of streamlining the drying process once out of the bath/shower.