Playing with movement and balance
If you've spent five minutes with a young child recently, you'll have noticed that they almost never, ever stop moving except when they're asleep. Movement is one of the primary ways that young children explore their world and learn about their own bodies. Babies, especially, are learning new ways to move and balance almost every month. Here are some fun activities that you can do at home to capitalize on your child's love of movement.
Two Feet, Two Hands
This activity is great for toddlers learning simple numbers and balance skills. Ask your child to make a shape with their body that has "two fee and two hands" on the floor. Then, change the combination by asking for "one foot, one hand." Get as creative as you can and challenge your child's physical dexterity and problem solving skills. BONUS TIP: If you do this project in tandem with your child, you can use even more number combinations - "three feet and four hands" is suddenly possible!
Stepping Stones
This is a variation of the "hot lava" game that we all used to play. Designate one area of your room as the river, and the goal of this game is to get from one side to the other. Use books, stools, or pillows to create a path of stepping stones across the river and see how fast you can cross. Challenge your child by placing the "stones" farther and farther apart, or see if you can do the challenge together. BONUS TIP: The adults in the house can offer up their own bodies as human "bridges" that the children must cross.
In, Around, and Through
Strengthen your child's understanding of spacial vocabulary by playing a variation of "Simon Says." Have a race to see how fast your child can find a position in relation to other objects in the room. Use words like "under, over, inside, between, around, on top of, behind, and beneath" to help them stretch their physical skills as well as having hands-on connection to new words and concepts.
Have fun moving! Let us know if you have any other favorite movement games that we can add to our list.
Two Feet, Two Hands
This activity is great for toddlers learning simple numbers and balance skills. Ask your child to make a shape with their body that has "two fee and two hands" on the floor. Then, change the combination by asking for "one foot, one hand." Get as creative as you can and challenge your child's physical dexterity and problem solving skills. BONUS TIP: If you do this project in tandem with your child, you can use even more number combinations - "three feet and four hands" is suddenly possible!
Stepping Stones
This is a variation of the "hot lava" game that we all used to play. Designate one area of your room as the river, and the goal of this game is to get from one side to the other. Use books, stools, or pillows to create a path of stepping stones across the river and see how fast you can cross. Challenge your child by placing the "stones" farther and farther apart, or see if you can do the challenge together. BONUS TIP: The adults in the house can offer up their own bodies as human "bridges" that the children must cross.
In, Around, and Through
Strengthen your child's understanding of spacial vocabulary by playing a variation of "Simon Says." Have a race to see how fast your child can find a position in relation to other objects in the room. Use words like "under, over, inside, between, around, on top of, behind, and beneath" to help them stretch their physical skills as well as having hands-on connection to new words and concepts.
Have fun moving! Let us know if you have any other favorite movement games that we can add to our list.
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