Physical Development

Kindergarten Readiness – Moove #8

No, that’s not a typo. It’s a play with words, because this blog is about mooving. Kids love to explore movement and need to find out all the different ways that they can coordinate their bodies. How would a moose move? Put thumbs on each side of the head, spread the fingers to be antlers and lumber around. How about a giraffe? Stretch way way up. An elephant? A bear, snake, fish, dog, cat, chicken, etc.

A few chores can be piggy-backed onto the movement exploration. How would a chicken put away the clean laundry? What parts of the body would a horse use to carry the toys out of the family room and back into the toy box? Fishes can wash the dishes. This makes working seem more like playing. Does this work for you?

Kindergarten Readiness – Lessons from FIFA

I wished, today,  I could send some comments from FIFA to all governments that control the funding and support of early childhood programs.  An analysis of Germany’s amazing performance contributed it to the emphasis the coach placed on “…the development of young talent”.  While the coach may not have been referring to quite the same age group the point is the same. The peak opportunity for developing and learning is in the first few years of childhood.

For an activity, to participate with this other young talent, have some fun with a ball, throwing, rolling, catching, kicking, bouncing or a combination of that and more. Thanks for the example, Coach Loew.

Kindergarten Readiness – Playgrounds #9

To finish off the topic of playground fun I was doing some internet research. I found a website for playground safety and was astonished to read how many children are treated in hospital ER’s for injuries that happen on playgrounds. As the adults it’s our job to properly supervise, to see if the area is clean and free of debris, to notice if there are repairs or maintenance needed, to judge if the children are the appropriate size for the equipment, and that the surface is intact, etc.

We also have another task, to help children learn about safety. Some kids are hesitant and need coaxing to venture down the slide or only like little pushes on the swing. Some are much more adventurous, sometimes reckless. We need to use simple explanations and watch for understanding. For example:  Feet go down the slide first, not heads. Feet can jump and land, heads bonk. Only one on the swing and one down the slide, no swing or slide ‘sandwiches’. These are only a few playground safety reminders. The issues you deal with depend, to a great extent, on the age and tendencies of your children. But even quite young children need, and can benefit from, safety training. Have fun and play safe.
Has this been a concern for your family or childcare facility?

Kindergarten Readiness – Hoop it Up

The headline in the paper said “The Hoop Is Back”. The reporter interviewed Sadie Yancey from Virginia and Toronto and she talked about the increasing popularity of hula hoops and their health benefits combined with fun. A hula hoop is a great idea for kids. Learning to hula with one can be tricky but kids can also roll it … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Hoop it Up

Kindergarten Readiness – Exercise Pit Stops

Vacations can mean time in the car, a bus, a plane, or a train. Besides pit stops and breaks for bathroom visits, kids need to move their bodies. Besides needing to wear off some energy, kids also need exercise for their bones. Childhood is the most important time for a healthy skeleton. Activity makes children’s bones … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Exercise Pit Stops