Ants and Kids Go Marching
March fourth is a unique day on the calendar; it can also be an action, to march forth. Marching around can inspire some movement activities for kids.
To start some movement play, you and your child can think of different ways to move around besides marching. There’s walking, running, hopping, skipping, limping, and maybe some others. Hopefully the weather is nice enough so your child can go outside and try these.
After doing those, ask your child how a dinosaur would march. That would be very big steps. How would a ladybug march? Think of all kinds of creatures and ask your child to show you how they would march. This list could be very long. Kids can think of their own suggestions and try different ways to march.
Marching is sometimes accompanied with music, especially drums. For sure, this is better outside unless you want to hear a spoon banging on a metal saucepan lid or pie plate.
Singing the song “The Ants Go Marching” along with beating a drum while marching keeps hands, feets, and voices busy all at the same time. Instead of ants, it could be kids marching too.
The kids go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah.
The kids go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah.
The kids go marching one by one,
The littlest one beats on a drum,
And they all go marching around, around.
Movement play is critical for both body and brain development. In an article for the Indiana Resource Center for Autism, Kim Davis writes, “Movement is one of the most important aspects of a young child’s life.” (The Value of Movement Activities for Young Children)
Muscles, bones, lungs, joints, and body systems all benefit. Coordination is a skill that comes from movement experiences. In the brain, movement encourages the growth of connections and pathways that are used for language and math. Movement activities for kids also support concentration and confidence.
Kids, as well as ants, can march around any day but it’s a great play-of-the-day idea from the date. Will you and your child march forth?