Shapes with Elastics

Can you make a shape with three sides?

And upside down triangle.....and a right way up triangle

 Does anyone have a different shape with three sides?

A triangle where all the sides are the same length

What other shapes can be made?

A four sided shape

During this activity students exercised their mind and bodies. Spatial awareness, language, strength, flexibility, creative thinking, working in pairs.

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.

Review: YMCA Play Gym

There are several YMCA Recreation Centers in our city. They offer a range of fantastic programs.

One in particular is the Play Gym. For the cost of about $6 per child, toddlers and Preschoolers (with the assistance of a carer) have access to a fully equipped gymnastics gym - a real gymnastics gym - complete with foam pit into which they can tumble.

For 45minutes, little ones and carers move around the space and try their hand on the special apparatus.

As one can see from the pictures, we have not been a for a while because,  I could not see how I could spot and coach the Preschooler and still keep the toddler from injuring himself.

But I think the 'age and stage' of our two little ones is just right now.

Play Gym sessions being an indoor activity is not only a fantastic option for when the weather is cold; it is also ideal when the weather is too hot and sunny or for when the pollen count in the air is at the highest it has been for10 years.

The challenge for me will be to remember the visit is for the little ones, not for me to revisit my gymnastics skills.

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.