Are there some socks missing their mates at your house? Give them a new purpose that’s fun and supports active play, early learning, and kindergarten readiness at the same time. Thanks to Rebekah and kids, at The Golden Gleam, for this fabulous idea.
Using a basket of socks without mates, the colored ones were rolled inside, and the white ones on the outside. These made balls that with an abracadabra became sock snowballs. In the hallway these could be safely tossed, juggled, aimed in the block bucket minus the blocks, balanced on the head and other body parts, and tossed into the laundry basket in the closet. Lots of activity for little bodies. Little Sister just liked throwing and running, but Big Sister made some rules and played a few games that she created.
Active play is essential to early learning and development, not just for bodies but for brains too. Did you know that we have two more body senses, one for the position of the body in space and one for movement? Movement is one of the tools that the body uses to create wiring in the brain for all kinds of learning. Maybe this primal need to move is why kids seem to come with so much energy. Mother Nature built in a drive to wiggle, squirm, climb, run, jump, hop, etc. so the body and brain can get lots of practice working together.
It is not always easy to have the time in a day and space for kids to enjoy vigorous physical activity. The weather does not always cooperate, either. An activity like this, that uses minimal material and preparation, and gives maximum fun is ideal. The early years are the best window-of-opportunity for gross motor development, that is using the large muscles in the body. These sock snowballs will not melt, so they can be used many times for lots of fun, learning, and kindergarten readiness. Are there some socks at your house that your child can use?