Tightrope

Tightrope

by | Apr 18, 2020 | Fitness Activity

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Requirements

  • A rope, ribbon, or any line on the ground

Instructions

  1. Find a straight line on the ground, or make one with rope, ribbon, or chalk line 5-6 metres long.
  2. A long pavement crack or concrete joint can also work.
  3. Show your child how to walk along the line heal-to-toe.
  4. Show how to extend arms for balance.
  5. Try walking along the line from start to finish without stepping off the line. If you do, you’ve “fallen.”
  6. Introduce imaginary scenarios for fun. Example: Pretend you are circus tightrope walkers.

Variations

  • Try walking along the line backwards, sidestepping, or crawling on all hands and feet
  • Create a tightrope obstacle course using several ropes, ribbons or lines on the ground – use a different walk on each length (forward, backward, sidestep, etc.) – you can designate “safe zones” between parts of the course to give your child a rest

Benefits

This activity develops coordination and balance as kids try to walk a straight line on a rope lying on the ground.

Rolling Down A Hill

Rolling Down A Hill

by | Apr 18, 2020 | Fitness Activity

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Requirements

• Small hill or incline outdoors covered in soft, dry grass

Instructions

  1. Get your child to stretch out at the top of a small grass hill, arms above head.
  2. Encourage your child to roll down the hill like a log.TIP: Remove jewelry and wear comfortable clothing.TIP: Make sure there are no sharp objects, rocks or obstacles in the grass.

Variations

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Benefits

This activity develops body proprioception and balance as kids roll because they learn how to differentiate up from down even when it keeps changing.

Picking Up Things

Picking Up Things

by | Apr 18, 2020 | Fitness Activity

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Requirements

• Outdoor nature environment such as beach, forest or park

Instructions

  1. Go with your toddler for a walk in a natural space (beach, forest, park, etc.).
  2. Encourage your toddler to find interesting things to pick up and investigate (e.g. stones, sticks, leaves)
  3. Watch to ensure your toddler does not pick up anything unsafe.TIP: This simple activity develops balance and coordination in bending down to pick things up.

Variations

• In your home, encourage your toddler to help you in activities where you are picking up things around the house
• Picking up books and putting them on a shelf
• Picking up toys and putting them away
• Picking up clothes for the laundry

Benefits

This activity develops coordination of legs, arms and torso, plus dynamic balance. These skills transfer to sports and activities that involve dynamic balance and coordination for lifting and lowering objects (e.g., weightlifting as a sport, and all daily lifting activities in general, plus combative sports such as wrestling and judo).

Mirror Mirror

Mirror Mirror

by | Apr 18, 2020 | Fitness Activity

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Requirements

  • Open space
  • Two partners

Instructions

  1. In Mirror Mirror, two partners face each other. One person is the “mirror master” and makes body movements. The other person must copy or “mirror” the movements.
  2. For the first try, stand facing your child with a small space between you.
  3. As you wave your arms, jump, step, wiggle, bend or otherwise move, your child must try to “mirror” your movement.
  4. After your child has imitated you for a few minutes, let your child be the mirror master.
  5. Try different fundamental movements such as hopping, jumping, spinning, skipping, and running on the spot.

Variations

  • Try different movement themes – the mirror master can imagine he or she is a hockey player, a firefighter, James Bond, or anyone else who does a lot of moving.

Benefits

This activity develops coordination and balance as kids try to imitate the movements of their parent or play partner.

Kick Side Foot

Kick Side Foot

by | Apr 17, 2020 | Fitness Activity

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Requirements

  • Open and flat outdoor space at least 5m by 10m
  • Soccer ball
  • 2 empty milk cartons, large yoghurt containers or other objects for goal posts

Instructions

  1. In a flat, open outdoor space, place your 2 goalposts on the ground 1 metre apart.
  2. Parent stands 2-4 metres away from goal, and child stands 2-4 metres on other side facing.
  3. Show your child how to kick with the side of your foot.
  4. Start behind the ball and step forward to plant your standing foot 10-15cm away to one side of the ball.TIP: Make sure the toes of your standing foot are pointed at the goal.
  5. Follow by swinging your kicking foot, and contact the ball with the inner side of your foot.TIP: Shape your kicking leg like a hockey stick (foot turned outwards).

    TIP: Bend the knee of your standing leg a little, and also bend the knee of your kicking leg.

    TIP: Plant your standing leg beside the ball, 10-15cm away, with toes pointed at the goal.

  6. Pass the ball back and forth through the goal.TIP: Each time you receive a pass, stop the ball with the side of your foot. Raise your foot a bit off the ground.
  7. Try to pass through the goal each time. Shorten the distance if necessary for success.

Variations

  • As your child’s kicking improves, try keeping score as a team – count how many consecutive successful passes you can make together through the goal – if one of you misses, start a new count and try to improve your score.
  • Try to play one-touch passing – pass very softly from close distance, and each of you has to pass back without first stopping the ball (like tennis) – count how many consecutive passes you can make like this

Benefits

This activity develops leg coordination, strength and fine motor control in the lower body. These skills transfer to sports and activities that involve kicking an object (e.g., soccer, football, martial arts).

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