Children develop experiences by seeing, hearing, touching, making perceptual judgments and reacting through carefully sequenced activities. These activities include running, hopping, skipping, jumping, balancing, crawling, climbing, throwing, catching, bowling, spinning and sliding.
One of the favourite activities in Room 15 and 16 is the dizzy giddy. The child lays inside it, holding onto the sides and then uses their body to roll around. Although it is a challenging activity, it helps develop children’s Vestibular System (balance), body control, rhythm, timing, and muscle strength.
Another exciting activity is the scooter board. The child lays on their tummy on the scooter board with their arms out front to pull their body along the floor. Their feet are up off the ground so they use upper body strength, balance and flexibility around the cones.
Using our large wooden boxes is a great way to help children develop their gross motor skills. Not only is it a fun and interactive way to play, but the climbing movement also helps them control the movement of their arms and legs as well as help to develop muscles in the head, neck, arms, back and legs.
Most importantly, crawling is vital for their cognitive development. It helps encourage crossing of the mid-line; this is the invisible line that runs down our centre and divides the left side from the right side of the body. Crossing of the mid-line is very important for further development and also for the two sides of the brain. It indicates that the left side of the brain is working with the right side of the brain and vice versa. Repeat crawling and practice will strengthen and continue to develop this.
Keywords: hand-eye coordination, balance, cognitive development, spatial awareness, locomotion.
Curriculum links:
Health & Physical Education- Movement Concepts & Motor Skills; Develop a wide range of movement skills, using a variety of equipment and play environments.
