-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
During the early years, physical activity and movement are an
important part of your childs development, learning and growth. She
is learning fundamental large motor and fine motor skills and needs
many opportunities to practice these skills. She is also developing
a life-long habit of being physically active. Research has shown
that young children who are not physically active may be at risk of
becoming overweight or obese. Obesity may lead to early adult
illnesses such as high blood pressure, hypertension, and type 2
diabetes. Your attitude influences your childs physical play and
movement habits. Research has shown that if a parent does not show
enthusiasm and interest in going outside to play or does not engage
in physical play, neither does the child. Your child will enjoy
spending time with you as you play and move together. The Healthy
Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Parent Guide will provide you
with ways to enhance your young childs motor and physical
development by using childrens books and everyday activities.
Fun and Simple Ways to Encourage Young Children to Be Physically
Active
-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
2 How Much Physical Activity Do Young Children Need? The
National Association for Sports and Physical Education (NASPE)
encourages parents to provide their young children with early
learning experiences that emphasize both health-promoting physical
play and basic motor skills. Basic motor skills include large motor
or locomotor skills and fine motor skills. Large motor skills
include walking, running, and jumping and the practice of
coordinated movements such as throwing balls, kicking, catching,
and bouncing. Fine or small motor skills require young children to
manipulate objects with accurate, controlled, and precise
movements. With the opportunity to practice, young children also
become skilled in self-care skills such as buttoning, snapping, and
zipping. It is vital that young children also experience both
structured physical activity (parent directed using specific
materials or modeling a specific motor skill) and unstructured
physical activities (child leads her own play experience or has
free play to practice motor skills).
NASPE recommends the following guidelines for children ages 0-5.
Activity can occur multiple times during the day in short intervals
and moderate-to-vigorous physical play across the day:
Age Unstructured Physical Activity Structured Physical Activity
Infants (0-12 Months) No minimum daily activity requirement.
It is highly encouraged for parents to provide their infant,
when alert and happy, with many short times across the day to
experience unstructured physical activity (such as lying on back,
tummy time, and rolling over).
It is highly encouraged for parents to provide their infant,
when alert and happy, with many short times across the day to
experience structured physical activity (such as exploring objects
of different sizes, textures, colors, and shapes).
Toddler (12-36 Months) Minimum daily activity requirement: 1.5
hrs.
60 minutes unstructured physical activity (free play such as
riding a tricycle)
30 minutes planned physical activity (such as tossing a
ball)
Preschooler (3-5 Years) Minimum daily activity requirement: 2
hrs.
60 minutes unstructured physical activity (free play such as
running in an open area)
60 minutes planned physical activity (such as throwing a ball at
a target)
-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
3 MOVEMENT MILESTONES Listed below are typical motor
developmental milestones for children ages 0-5. Your child is an
individual and may reach these milestones before or later than his
peers. If you are concerned about your childs motor development,
please speak with her doctor. For a free assessment of your childs
motor skills and overall development, visit
www.raising-readers.org.
Age
Group Fine Motor/Manipulative Skills
Small movements of the hands and fingers
(Moving objects with hands such as stringing beads)
Gross Motor/Locomotor Skills
Big movements of the arms, legs, and trunk/torso (Moving ones
body from one point to another such as jumping)
Infants (Birth to
12 Months)
2 - 3 months: Babies bring their hands to their mouths and take
swipes at dangling objects and grasp objects placed in the palm of
their hand; may hold head up when seated, although the head may
bob.
7 - 9 months: Babies use their fingers and thumbs to hold things
much better and transfer objects from one hand to the other.
10 - 12 months: At this age, babies usually are able to hold a
crayon and make marks with it and put objects into and out of a
container.
1 - 2 months: Babies begin to lift their head and shoulders when
lying on their stomach. But when seated, a babys head will usually
fall forward.
4 - 7 months: Babies may roll onto their side from their
stomach. Some babies may be able to sit unsupported for short
periods and support their whole weight on their legs.
7 - 9 months: Babies learn to roll from their backs to their
stomachs around this age. They may also pull themselves up to
standing position, crawl on all fours.
10 - 12 months: At this age, babies usually are able to sit for
long periods, move more easily, may walk by holding an adults hand
or onto furniture and stand unsupported.
Toddlers (Ages 1-2)
12 - 15 months: Children at this age are usually able to point,
remove covers from containers, and take off their clothing. 15 - 24
months: On average, children can scribble well and stack several
blocks.
12 - 15 months: On the average, children learn to walk around
this time, with the first shaky steps coming around the 1-year
mark. First steps may come later or, sometimes, even earlier. But
the age a child first walks usually doesnt mean anything. They can
overhand throw. 15 - 24 months: Childrens balance and control
improves during this period. Toddling becomes steadier. Their
confidence builds until they can run, walk backwards and may also
be able to kick a large ball and catch a ball when their hands are
held out.
Older Toddlers (Ages 2-3)
Fine motor skills also improve during this period. Children will
learn to turn objects, such as doorknobs and screw-on lids. They
begin to use fingers more separately than before and control them
better. Some children may draw rough, but recognizable, pictures
with a crayon.
Children are very active during this period. They like to run
and climb. They also learn to jump with both feet off the ground
and seem to be constantly in motion. Some children may gallop and
learn to pedal riding toys.
Preschoolers (Ages 3-6)
Children also find it easier to focus on objects in the distance
during these years. They usually can focus better on a line of
print in a book. By age 6, they can learn to draw several shapes
and recognizable pictures, cut on a line with scissors (not
perfectly), reproduce some shapes and print some letters.
Their abilities to bounce, throw, and catch balls also improve.
Children learn to hop, skip, strike, throw at a target and do a
standing long jump. Children are able to walk on a balance beam. By
age 6, their balance and coordination may be developed enough to
allow them to begin to learn how to skate or ride a bike.
Source: National Association for Sport and Physical Education
(2009) and By the Ages: Behavior & Development of Children
Pre-Birth through Eight (2000).
-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
How to be a Movement Model Below are simple ways you can promote
your childs daily physical activity and movement skills: Be Active
with Your Child. Experts say that
what kids want more than anything else is time with their
parents. To give them that, dont just send them out to play go play
with them!
Follow Your Childs Lead. Your child will let
you know the amount of assistance that she needs to keep moving.
For example, your infant will look away from you if she is done or
bored with a play activity. Your toddler is full of energy and will
play at a full pace. Follow his pace to encourage him to play
longer. Help your preschooler strengthen her motor skills by giving
her the amount of coaching that she needs to refine the skill. For
example, modify a throwing game to both challenge her and to allow
her to be successful (If your child can not throw a ball in a
basket, ask her to move closer to the basket).
Use Encouraging Words. Research has shown
that young children who are confident in their physical skills
are more likely to continue to be physically active and proficient
throughout their childhood and adult life. As your child begins to
learn a new skill or practice developing a skill, talk with him to
motivate him to keep trying. Praise his efforts (Wow, you really
kicked the ball far). With your baby, use facial, verbal and
nonverbal expressions to motivate her to continue being physically
active with a toy. Model a skill that your child is having
difficulty with such as telling him how to catch a ball (Hold out
your arms and hug the ball when it comes to you).
Keep it Simple. Its easy to feel overwhelmed
when you think about adding another thing to your familys busy
schedule. Start simple and gradually add more movement activities
to your childs daily schedule. Start by altering what you do
already. When you go grocery-shopping, park a little farther from
the front of the grocery store for you and your children to walk.
Let your toddler out of the stroller so she can walk to a drinking
fountain or a play area.
Lay your infant on a blanket to stretch and play with a soft
rattle while you sit next to her and fold laundry or read a book.
There is no need to purchase expensive sports equipment or toys.
Use what you have at home. Use a large wooden spoon from the
kitchen as a paddle for your child to hit a balloon or foam ball
across the living room floor. Make a musical shaker for your infant
or toddler. Recycle a soda or water bottle and add paperclips,
rocks, and small toys to it. Secure the lid with tape. Limit Screen
Time. The American Academy of
Pediatrics (2009) recommends that children under 2 have no
television or screen time (screen media such as computer games,
videos, or DVDs). For children over age 2, the recommendation is 1
to 2 hours per day for television (or any screen media such as DVDs
or computer/video games). Most children get 46 hours of screen
time. Your child learns best by doing hands-on and face-to-face
activities with you. Limit your childs screen time. Instead of
watching television or playing on the computer, spend time
together. Go for a walk, kick a ball around or ride bikes around
the neighborhood.
-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
How to Support Your Child Motor and Early Literacy Skills:
Childrens books are a wonderful way to motivate your childs
physical activity and movement. When you share books with her that
show a favorite book character enjoying being physical active or a
loveable book character moving in fun ways, she will be willing and
motivated to move just like them. Sharing books and early literacy
activities help build the motor skills your child needs for
school-readiness. READ: Reading with your child from birth helps
build her print motivation, an enjoyment of interacting with books.
Interacting with books also supports her fine and large motor
skills that are used to hold a book upright and turn pages. She
will also practice her visual tracking by looking at illustrations
and following your finger as your track print from left to right as
you read to her. TALK: The more words your child knows, the more
likely he will have an easier time learning how to read. Talking
and reading with him will increase his vocabulary and teach him
sounds in words that will prepare him for reading and writing. Use
movement vocabulary to describe how he moves his body through space
or moves his body in
different ways. Use words such as up/down, low/high or
straight/curved. These types of movement words will also help him
understand math concepts in school. SING: Singing with your child
will help build her phonological awareness, the ability to hear
smaller sounds in words. Phonological awareness will help your
child sound out words as she learns how to read. Learning the
actions to songs and rhymes increases her vocabulary and oral
memory skills. For example, the repetition of music, songs, and
fingerplays helps her anticipate what comes next. She will move her
large and small muscles as she participates in a movement song or
rhyme. Listening to different kinds of music will also help her
learn by hearing sounds at different levels and tones. WRITE: As
your child grasps a toy, feeds himself, or builds a tower with
blocks, he is strengthening his fine motor skills needed to grasp a
pencil for writing and other fine-motor skills needed for success
in daily life and in school. Model writing for your child and
encourage him to draw and write with you. MOVE: Your child builds
her listening skills as she follows directions, performs steps in a
sequence to move to music, or performs a motor action such as
throwing a beanbag into a basket. Use open-ended questions to
encourage your child to use her creative thinking (Show me another
way to move your hips to the music or How can you knock down the
bottle with a beanbag?). PLAY: Play develops your childs brain and
increases his ability to learn. As he participates in movement
activities, he is practicing focusing his attention on a single
task. He develops his attention span when he is involved in a
structured (child-directed) activity. Play also gives him the
opportunity to express his imagination, creativity and
problem-solving skills (such as pretending to be a knight climbing
a castle wall).
-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
6 Physical & Movement Activities for Infants (Birth to 12
Months) Your baby learns through movement. He will discover that as
he moves his body, he can change what he sees, hears, and feels. He
will use his senses and emerging physical skills to help him
explore and learn about the people and objects in his world. Help
your baby build his curiousity and movement skills by providing him
with an open space that is free of furniture. When your baby is
alert and happy, take this opportunity to interact and play with
him. Closely watch his cues of having enough playful activity time
with you. He will cry or look away when he is done with the
activity or if the activity is no longer interesting to him.
TALK: Look at your babys eyes as you talk to him (0-12
months). Your baby enjoys seeing your face and hearing the sound
of your voice. Help build her receptive vocabulary (words she
understands) by pointing to objects as you name them. Describe how
she moves her body (You are kicking your legs!).
Go for a listening walk with your infant (0-12 months). Hold
your baby in different positions so he can see the world from
different views. Describe the sounds that you hear and what you
see.
Provide your baby with touch and feel books and toys (0-12
months). Your baby will enjoy a variety of toys in different sizes,
colors, and textures. Talk to her about the textures (Your blanket
feels soft). For your older infant, vary the height of toys that
you offer her to encourage her to move.
SING: Your infant loves the sound of your voice (0-12
months). Sing movement songs and rhymes that encourage you to
gently move her body parts (clap hands, tap toes and jump). This
will also help her learn the names of her body parts and build her
memory.
Make your own musical instruments (3-12 months). Your older
infant will enjoy grasping and shaking a rattle to music. Provide
cause-and-effect and noise-making toys that he needs to
manipulate.
Personalize nursery rhymes (0-12 months). Substitute your babys
name in nursery rhymes that encourage movement. For example, say,
Billy, be nimble, Billy be quick. Billy jump over the candlestick
(lift your baby up when you say the word jump).
MOVE: Encourage Tummy Time throughout the day (0-6
months). Lay your baby on her stomach when she is awake and
alert. Place a rolled towel under her chest and arms to help
support her. Prop up a book for her to look at or place colorful
toys in front of her. You can also lie down on your back and place
her on your chest. Talk or sing to her.
Create your own obstacle course (6 -12 months). Your baby will
enjoy crawling and climbing over and around pillows and under a
blanket.
Provide supervised sensory materials (6 -12 months). Provide
your baby with a variety of different textured materials to
explore. Pull scarves out of a tissue box. Allow him to crawl on
different surfaces: carpet, hard flooring, grass, etc. Encourage
him to work his fingers by squishing pudding, a banana, or cooked
spaghetti. Show your baby how to hold a large crayon and scribble
on paper.
PLAY: Create your own visual tracking games (0-6
months). Help your baby develop her ability to follow or track
moving objects. Use a rattle and hold it 8 inches from her face.
Shake the rattle and slowly move it to one side, back to the
middle, then to the other side.
Encourage your baby to get that toy (3 6 months). Place brightly
colored toys in a circle and out of reach for your baby to move
towards. Play a push away game by gently laying your infant on his
stomach and having him push off your hand to get a toy. Create a
rolling toy for him to crawl after. Place paper strips, large
beads, and jingle bells in an empty clear juice bottle. Secure the
lid with tape.
Play with empty boxes (6 12 months). Boxes are great for your
mobile infant to crawl through, in, and around. Provide toys for
her to drop into a small box and then dump it, and do it over
again.
-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
Physical & Movement Activities for Toddlers (12 to 36
Months) Your toddler has a lot of energy and enjoys being
constantly on the move. She needs a lot of opportunities and open
space to practice and build her new motor skills such as walking,
running, kicking, and throwing. She will also begin to use her
hands more to explore objects and her world. With her short
attention span, she may move from one activity to the next, keeping
you on the run just to keep up with her! TALK: Follow your toddlers
lead in conversations. Your
toddler is beginning to say understandable words. Encourage
conversation by repeating the words back to her, and asking
open-ended questions. Expand upon what she says (Ball? Yes, that is
a soft red ball. What would you like to do with the ball? Throw
it?). Talk with her about what she is doing (You are picking such
pretty yellow dandelions!).
Play body awareness games to learn the names of body parts.
Sing, Head, shoulders, knees and toes as you touch his body parts.
Together you can swing your arms like a monkey, slide like a snake,
walk on all fours like a bear, and hop like a kangaroo.
Let your toddler walk. Park the stroller and walk down a safe
sidewalk at a local park or shopping mall. Describe what she sees,
hears, smells, and touches. Be prepared for her to stop frequently
to examine and pick up objects.
WRITE: Create a Writing Box. Put together a drawing box for
your child that includes crayons and scraps of paper to draw on.
Include chalk to use outside or in the garage to exercise his
shoulder muscles. Provide him with a paintbrush and a bucket of
water to paint the sidewalk.
Provide Sensory Play. Your toddler enjoys exploring with all of
her senses. Provide materials for her to use with her fingers such
as finger painting and play dough. Provide shaving cream or pudding
to explore. Make water and sand play interesting with small
containers to fill and dump, and sponges and a turkey baster to
squeeze. Use tongs to pick up cotton balls and put into a muffin
tin.
Enjoy Pretend Play Together. Engage in pretend play with your
toddler while you do your normal
activities. Have him ride a wheel-toy to a family car wash and
wash his toy. Play restaurant and allow him to pour juice from a
play teapot or child-size pitcher. Decorate a box to be your post
office or mailbox, and place it outside. Have him scribble on his
mail, and walk to the mailbox together to mail it.
SING: Share Movement Songs: Share
movement songs, or create your own songs that encourage your
toddler to move her body in different ways. Model
how she can hop up and down, do tick-tocks from side to side
while standing on your feet, spin, move her arms up/down and
in/out.
Make Musical Instruments. Let your toddler use pots and pans and
a plastic spoon for rhythm sticks to create her own music or play
to the rhythm of her favorite song. Put beans in an empty water
bottle and tape the lid on for a shaker.
Share Nursery Rhymes. Your toddler will enjoy acting out nursery
rhymes that encourage him to move his body such as Jack be Nimble,
Humpty Dumpty, and The Itsy Bitsy Spider.
PLAY: Play Chase Games in a wide-open space. Provide
hills and slopes for your toddler to walk and run down to
practice his balance. Also encourage him to walk on different
surfaces such as rocks, sand, and dirt.
Provide Problem-Solving Toys. Your toddler will enjoy simple
puzzles, stacking rings, sorting boxes, and nesting cups. Shell
also like playing with blocks to stack and knock down.
Create a Sensory Box. Fill a plastic bin with clean soil, sand,
water, oatmeal, or packaging peanuts for him to dig in and use
different size containers to fill and dump. Provide
supervision.
MOVE: Games with Balls. Provide your child with balls of
different sizes to kick, roll to you, throw into a laundry
basket, and hit up in the air.
Target Fun. Create paper targets that have a bell attached to
them. Hang the targets at different heights on a wall or fence.
Give your toddler balls in different sizes, weights, and shapes
(tennis balls, beach balls, balls with nubs). Let him stand as
close as necessary to aim and hit the target.
-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
8
Physical & Movement Activities for Preschoolers (3-5 Years)
Your preschooler will continue to build her coordination and large
motor skills such as running, kicking, and throwing. By the time
she enters Kindergarten, she will have acquired most of the basic
large and fine motor skills. TALK Go for a listening walk. Talk
with your preschooler
about what you hear, see, smell, and feel. Pretend you are
walking in the forest and make up a story together of what you
see.
Use a variety of movement words. Use different words to describe
your childs movements to help her learn new words (twist, sprint,
leap, slither, float).
Encourage self-help skills. Coach your child in self-help skills
such as buttoning, snapping, and zippering. Start the zipper for
him and let him pull up the zipper. Talk to him about how to hold a
toothbrush and turn it different angles to clean his teeth.
SING Share Nursery Rhymes. Your child will enjoy acting
out nursery rhymes that encourage her to move her body such as
Jack be Nimble, Humpty Dumpty, and The Itsy Bitsy Spider.
Share Movement Songs. Share movement songs or create your own
that encourage your child to move her body in different ways. Model
how she can hop up and down, do tick-tocks from side to side while
standing on your feet, spin, move her arms up/down and in/out. Show
her how to dance with scarves.
Make Musical Instruments. Let your child use pots and pans and a
plastic spoon for rhythm sticks to create his own music or play to
the rhythm of his favorite song. Put beans in an empty bottle and
tape on a lid to create a shaker.
PLAY Bounce Ball. Use a medium size ball to practice
bouncing or dribbling skills with your child. Model how to
bounce a ball down and catch it. Then model how to bounce a ball
continuously, and bounce the ball at different heights. Ask her to
think of other ways she can bounce a ball using different parts of
her body (with her elbow, knee, forehead).
Throwing Station. Use yarn balls, crumpled-up paper balls, or
beanbags for your child to throw into a box,
bowl, or basket. Use recyclable materials such as two-liter soda
bottles, oatmeal containers, or plastic juice bottles for him to
knock down. Make paper targets and tape them on a wall for him to
throw at.
Hit the Balloon. Create your own target hitting game. Use a
blown up balloon and a paddle made out of a paper plate. Hit the
balloon back and forth with your child. Also encourage her to hit a
balloon or foam ball in different ways such as from the ground, on
a tee, or tossed.
WRITE Create a family physical activity chart. Make a
chart of physical activity that your preschooler can choose
from. Model writing by writing down her suggestions and drawing a
stick person. Some ideas are going for a walk, riding bikes,
dancing to music, and doing jumping jacks.
Plan a bike trip together to a local park. Write out what you
might need for a short family bike ride. Pack a snack and look up a
city map or read about the park.
Create a writing box. Provide your child with an assortment of
materials that encourage him to practice his eye-hand coordination
and fine motor skills. An example is a box filled with a variety of
paper and writing materials, large beads with laces, hole-punched
cards in the shape of a favorite book character for him to sew
with, and strips of paper to weave with.
MOVE Skatepark. Create a skating park in your home. Move
furniture so your child can slide on a wooden floor wearing
socks, or use paper plates to skate on the carpet to a variety of
music. Move fast/faster or slow/slower.
Wheel Movement. Provide your child with a tricycle. Once she
feels comfortable pedaling forward and around wide corners,
encourage her to steer around obstacles such as pylons or empty
boxes.
-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
READ The tables below feature childrens books that will
encourage your infant, toddler, or preschooler to get up and move
with you! After you read a suggested book, try one of the movement
activities to help develop your childs movement skills. CHILDRENS
BOOKS FOR INFANTS & TODDLERS (0-36 MONTHS)
MOVEMENT SKILL & CHILDRENS BOOKS MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES
LABELING & MOVING DIFFERENT BODY PARTS
Here are My Hands by Bill Martin Jr. From Head to Toe by Eric
Carle Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes: And Other Action Rhymes by
Zita Newcome Little Yoga: A Toddlers First Book of Yoga by Rebecca
Whitford Wiggle & Move by Sanja Rescek Wiggle Your Toes by
Karen Katz Toddlerobics by Zita Newcome The Day the Babies Crawled
Away by Peggy Rathmann The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
Label body parts (0-36 months). Touch and label your
childs body parts and ask her questions such as Where are your
toes? or Wheres Mamas nose?
Move body parts (0-36 months). Duplicate the actions in the book
with your child. (Show me how you brush your teeth?) Touch babys
body parts and refer to the story.
Move like an animal (6 36 months). Make a movement cube by
gluing pictures of animals (snake, bird, dog, horse, etc.) on the
sides of a small box. Have your child roll the dice, and then
together act like the animal it lands on.
WALKING
I Went Walking by Sue Williams Maisys Nature Walk by Lucy
Cousins Walk On! by Maria Frazee Wiggle! March! by Kaaren Pixton I
Can by Helen Oxenbury Ollie the Stomper by Olivier Dunrea Good
Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming
Carl's Afternoon in the Park by Alexandra Day Ring Around the Rosie
by Annie Kubler
Cruising (8-14 months). Follow your babys lead on the
amount of support that she needs when trying to walk. Allow her
to cruise along low furniture or around a coffee table or steady
box. Hold her hands to walk through the house as you go about your
routine.
Make Walking Toys (24-36 months). Tie a string to a shoebox and
encourage your child to place items in it and walk around pulling
it. Provide pull toys that encourage your toddler to walk backwards
or sideways.
Walking Fun (24-36 months). Encourage your toddler to walk along
a straight and curved line using masking tape on the carpet or
chalk on the sidewalk. Ask him to walk forward, backwards, and
sideways on the line.
HOPPING & JUMPING Bounce by Doreen Cronin Toddlerobics by
Zita Newcome Hop, Skip and Jump by Nicola Tuxworth Five Little
Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow Eyes, Nose,
Fingers, and Toes: A First Book All About You by Judy Hindley Piggy
in the Puddle by Charlotte Pomerantz
Step Jumping (24-36 months). Hold your toddlers hands
and encourage him to step onto a bottom step. Help him jump down
one step onto the floor. When he feels comfortable, let him jump
down by himself.
Jumping Fun. Hold your childs hands as you jump together or as
she jumps from a bottom step to the floor.
Hoop Jumping (22-36 months). Place a hoop on the floor to jump
in and out of. Recycle bubble wrap and hold your childs hands as he
jumps on it to pop the air bubbles.
-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
10 CHILDRENS BOOKS FOR INFANTS & TODDLERS (0-36 MONTHS)
MOVEMENT SKILL & CHILDRENS BOOKS MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES
RUNNING
Catch That Baby! by Nancy Coffelt No, David! by David Shannon
Tippy-Toe, Chick, Go! by George Shannon Were Going on a Bear Hunt
by Michael Rosen The Tortoise and the Hare by Janet Stevens The
Gingerbread Man by Nancy Nolte Run, Mouse, Run! by Petr Horacek
Ball Chase (12-36 months). Encourage your child to run after a
large beach ball or exercise ball in a wide-open space.
Running Fun (12-36 months). Run in different ways (straight,
zig-zag, gliding, flying fast) in a large open space. Flap your
arms to imitate a bird flying.
Run in Place (24-36 months). Show your child how to run in
place. Give directions. Run fast, pretend someone is chasing you.
Now you are tired, slow down.
BALANCING
All Fall Down by Helen Oxenbury Balancing Act by Ellen Stoll
Walsh Cosmo Zooms by Arthur Howard How Do Dinosaurs Go Up and Down?
by Jane Yolen Sign and Sing Along: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear! by Annie
Kubler
Rock from Side to Side (2-24 months). Hold your child securely
on your knee and gently tip her from side to side, forwards and
back.
Balance on a Ball (5-12 months). Provide a large bounce ball for
your child to sit on and balance his body and use to push off with
his legs. Hold his hands at all times.
Balancing Act (18-36 months). Provide your child with a beanbag
or small soft toy to balance on his head. Encourage him to walk
around in an open space in different ways (forward, backwards,
sideways). Ask him to try to balance the beanbag on other body
parts (shoulder, chest, knee, toes, heel, and hip).
DANCING
Baby Dance by Ann Taylor The Baby Dances by Kathy Henderson
Dance with Me by Charles R. Smith. Jr. Nutcracker Twinkle Toes by
Karen Katz Lets Dance, Little Pookie by Sandra Boynton Barnyard
Dance! by Sandra Boynton Dancing Feet! by Lindsey Craig
Move to Music (0-12 months). Play slow and soothing music and
gently sway your baby. Talk to her and tell her how much you love
her.
Musical Fun (6-36 months). Wave colorful scarves as you dance
with your child. Make your own dancing rings by tying ribbons or
strips of material to a plastic lid cut into a hoop. Show your
child how to shake a shaker way up high and way down low.
Bell Fun (0-36 months). Make your own bell socks. On a pair of
your infants socks, securely sew a bell on the top of the foot. For
toddlers, securely sew bells around the ankle of the sock.
Encourage your child to stamp feet, kick, tap toes, hop, jump,
wiggle feet, run in place, and tiptoe around the room.
FINE MOTOR
Clap Hands by Helen Oxenbury Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al
Perkins Piggies by Audrey Wood Ten Little Fingers by Annie Kubler
The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Rosemary Wells Where Is Babys Belly
Button? by Karen Katz All by Myself! by Aliki Getting Dressed by
Mathew Price and Moira Kemp
Scarf Pull (2-12 months). Create a scarf pull game. Tie several
scarves together. Place the scarves in an empty Kleenex box. Let
your baby pull the scarves out of the box.
Card Pick Up (6-36 months). Glue or print pictures of your
childs favorite animals, objects, or family members on small index
cards (round edges) or thick scrap paper the size of playing cards
to encourage your child to use her fingers to pick up the cards.
Talk with her about the pictures.
Self-Help Skills (15-36 months). Encourage your toddler to use
self-help skills to help build his fine motor skills. Let him try
to dress himself, wash his own hands and untie his shoes. Help him
learn to zipper, snap, and button.
-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
11 CHILDRENS BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOLERS
MOVEMENT SKILL & CHILDRENS BOOKS
MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES
LABELING & MOVING DIFFERENT BODY PARTS Move! by Robin Page
and Steve Jenkins Piggy Pie Po by Audrey & Don Wood Ready, Set,
Skip! by Jane OConnor Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp by Carol
Diggory Shields The Animal Boogie by Debbie Harter Wiggle by Doreen
Cronin E is for Exercise by Symone LaDeane Oh the Things You Can Do
That are Good for You by Tish Rabe
Body Movement. Turn movement words found in stories into a
movement game (leap like a deer, run like a tiger, gallop like a
horse, jump like a frog). Make your own movement cards or cube with
pictures of different animals that your child can imitate (swim
like a fish, stretch like a giraffe). Encourage your childs
problem-solving and different movements by asking him questions
such How many different ways can you knock down the bottles? or
Show me another way to move your lips.
Hula-Hoop Fun. Think of different ways to move your body using a
hula-hoop (jump in and out, run around, throw and catch, spin
around neck and arms).
Limbo Time. Use a winter scarf for your child to go under to see
how low they can make their bodies or to jump over to see how high
they can jump. Try army crawling and moving backwards under the
scarf.
WALKING & RUNNING A Boy, A Dog, and a Frog by Mercer Mayer
Get Up and Go! by Nancy Carlson Like a Windy Day by Frank Asch
Piggies by Audrey Woods Rosies Walk by Pat Hutchins Were Going on a
Picnic by Pat Hutchins The Gingerbread Man retold by Jim Aylesworth
The Great Gracie Chase by Cynthia Rylant The Listening Walk by Paul
Showers The Snow Day by Ezra Jack Keats The Three Billy Goats Gruff
retold by Janet Stevens
Walking Obstacle. Encourage children to walk along a straight
and curved line using masking tape on the carpet or chalk on the
sidewalk. Challenge children to walk forward, backwards, and
sideways on the line.
Stop and Go Walking Game. Play lively music and encourage your
child to walk around the room. When the music stops, she will need
to stop walking and walk again once the music starts playing
again.
Family Walk Time. Collect objects such as rocks, leaves, and
sticks. Talk about the colors, size, shapes, and patterns that you
see in the objects. Make a plan to walk to a nearby park or friends
house for a picnic. Explore walking in the snow, rain, and on a
windy day. How does your childs body feel compared to walking on a
sunny day.
CLIMBING, PULLING, & ROLLING Jack and the Beanstalk by
Steven Kellogg Mrs. Wishy Washy by Joy Cowley Stretch by Doreen
Cronin The Enormous Turnip by Kathy Parkinson Roll Over by Merle
Peek Up, Up, Down by Robert Munsch Climb the Family Tree, Jesse
Bear! by Nancy White Carlstrom The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza
Trapani
Reenact Favorite Stories. On the playground, encourage children
to slowly climb up a ladder to pretend to be Jack on the Beanstalk.
Ask your child to be the different animals in Mrs. Wishy Washy
rolling in the mud as you reread the story aloud. Rolling. Find a
wide-open space and show your child how to roll a hula-hoop to you.
Vary the distances you roll the hoop. Tug of war. Hold on to one
end of a pool noodle while your child hangs on to the other end.
Challenge your child to pull you over. Try playing tug of war from
various positions, sitting, kneeling, and standing. Climbing. Find
a playground with climbing equipment, such as a climbing wall,
jungle gym, etc. Stand by your child to provide supervision and
support as she climbs.
-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
12
CHILDRENS BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOLERS
MOVEMENT SKILL & CHILDRENS BOOKS
Movement Activities
JUMPING Bobbie Dazzler by Margaret Wild Boing! by Nick Bruel
Bounce by Doreen Cronin Five Green and Speckled Frogs by Constanza
Basaluzzo Hop! Plop! by Corey Rosen Schwartz Im as Quick as a
Cricket by Don & Audrey Wood Jump, Frog, Jump! by Robert Kalan
Leap Back Home to Me by Lauren Thompson
Follow-the-Leader. Ask her to copy you jumping forward,
backwards, on two feet, on one foot, a mad jump, a happy jump, and
so on. Tape lines. Use tape to create a line for your child to jump
like a frog along. Create patterns for her to follow (small
jump-big jump or small jump-small jump-big jump). Place hoops in a
straight line so your child can jump from one hoop to the next.
Move the hoops into a curved path for her to jump along. Create
Jumping Hurdles. Use jump ropes, a broom stick, or create a
straight line with removable tape for your child to jump over.
Create two lines side-by-side for him to jump over. To make it more
challenging, spread the two lines further apart.
BALANCING Balancing Act by Ellen Stoll Walsh Do Donkeys Dance?
by Melanie Walsh Silly Sally by Audrey Wood Stretch by Doreen
Cronin Over, Under and Through by Tana Hoban
Bean Bag Fun. Provide your child with a beanbag or small soft
toy to balance on his head. Encourage him to walk around in an open
space in different ways (forward, backwards, sideways). Ask him to
try to balance the beanbag on other body parts (shoulder, chest,
knee, toes, heel, and hip). Make a Balance Beam for your
preschooler to walk across. Beams should be 4 to 6 wide and no more
the 30 off the ground. You can also look for places to walk across
such as a low wall at the local park. Make a Pair of Can Stilts for
your child to use in an open space. Use recycled cans for coffee or
other large cans. Punch 2 holes in each can, on opposite sides.
Thread sturdy rope through the holes, and provide enough length
that it reaches your childs waist. Show her how to walk on the
stilts. Balance Counts. Ask your child to balance on one foot, and
together count how long he can hold it. Switch feet, and compare
how long he can hold it on that side.
-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
13 DANCING Brontorina by James Howe Bearobics by Vic Parker and
Emily Bolam Giraffes Cant Dance by Giles Andreae Color Dance by Ann
Jonas Dance! by Bill T. Jones & Susan Kuklin Watch Me Dance by
Andrea and Brian Pinkney How Do You Wokka-Wokka? by Elizabeth
Bluemle Dilly Dogs Dizzy Dancing by Barbara deRubertis The
All-American Jump and Jive Jig by M.P. Hueston Elephant Cannot
Dance by Mo Willems Hilda Must be Dancing by Karma Wilson
Dance Party. Play a variety of music for you and your child to
dance to. Encourage him to move his body in a different ways
(wiggle your hips, bend your knees). Also include facial movements
such as move your jaw and wiggle your lips.
Rainbow Dance. Provide your child with colorful scarves or
streamers for him to move in different ways. Encourage him to move
his arms in big wide circles/small circles/circles in front of his
body.
Dance Word List. With your child, write a list of words
describing the different dance moves she can do. Post your list
near the place that you dance together. While dancing, call out a
dance word for her to do such as twist, bend, shake, spin, shimmy,
squat, skip, jump, and swing arms.
-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
14 Movement Rhymes, Fingerplays, and Songs
Rhymes, fingerplays, and songs are important for your childs
language development. Your childs vocabulary will increase, and the
sounds introduce him to the rhythms of the English language. The
repetitive nature of nursery rhymes helps your child develop memory
skills. Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers learn to anticipate what
will happen next. One is a Giant One is a giant who stomps his feet
(walk around stomping feet) Two is a fairy who flaps her wings
(pretend to fly) Three is a mouse who crouches small (curl up
small) And four is a great big bouncing ball (jump around) Jump,
jump, Kangaroo Brown Jump, jump, Kangaroo Brown Jump, jump, up and
down Jump, jump, Kangaroo Brown Jump, jump all around (jump up and
down with your child) Ring Around the Rosie Ring around the rosy,
Pocket full of posy. Ashes, ashes All fall down. Cows are in the
meadow Eating buttercups. Ashes, ashes We all stand up. Great A,
Little a Great A, little a, Bouncing B! The cats in the cupboard,
And cant see me. (bounce) I like to Bend I like to bend down low. I
like to reach up high. I like to turn around. And walk backwards,
And jump forward! Once I Saw A Little Bird Once I saw a little bird
come hop, hop, hop; So I cried, Little bird, will you stop, stop,
stop? And was going to the window to say, How do you do? But he
shook his little tail, And far away he flew.
Shoofly (Circe to the left) Shoofly, dont bother me, Shoofly,
dont bother me, Shoofly, dont bother me, Cause I belong to
somebody. (Walk in and out) I feel, I feel, I feel like a morning
star. I feel, I feel, I feel like a morning star. I feel, I feel, I
feel like a morning star. I feel, I feel, I feel like a morning
star. (Repeat 1st verse and circle to the right) Slowly Slowly
Slowly, very slowly, up the garden rail, (walk fingers up babys
arm) Slowly, very slowly, creeps the little snail. (walk fingers up
babys other arm) Then quickly, very quickly, runs the little mouse,
(circle babys belly) Quickly, very quickly, all around the house.
Dance to Your Daddy Dance to your daddy, My bonnie laddie; Dance to
your daddy, my bonnie lamb; You shall get a fishy, On a little
dishy; You shall get a fishy, when the boat comes home. Stretching
Fun I stretch and stretch and find it fun (stretch) To try to reach
up to the sun. (reach hands up) I bend and bend to touch the
ground, (touch the ground) Then I twist and twist all around (twist
side to side) One, Two, Three, Four, Five One, two, three, four,
five, Once I caught a fish alive. Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
Then I let it go again. Why did you let it go? Because it bit my
finger so. Which finger did it bite? The little one upon the
right.
-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
15 (jump or hop while counting) Handy Spandy, Jack-A-Dandy Handy
Spandy, Jack-A-Dandy, Loved plum cake and sugar candy; He bought
some at the grocers shop, And out he came, a-hop, hop, hop. (hop
around room) Banbury Cross Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross, To
see a fine lady upon a white horse; Rings on her fingers and bells
on her toes, She shall have music wherever she goes. (dance and
shake bells)
Jack Be Nimble Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jumped over
the candlestick (act out actions) Row, Row, Row Your Boat Row, row,
row your boat Gently down the stream, Merrily, merrily, merrily,
merrily, Life is but a dream. Actions: (Sit on floor, legs apart in
a straddle position. With child facing you, hold hands. Rock back
and forth to song. Repeat song quickly, then slowly.)
Online Movement Resources Fingerplays, Songs, & Music:
Ames Public Library: Storytime Music List (Ages 0-5)
http://www.amespubliclibrary.org/kids/Music.asp Mother Goose
Nursery Rhyme Booklet (Henrico County Public Library)
http://www.henricolibrary.org/pdfs/NurseryRhymeBooklet.pdf Reading
is Fundamental: Infant & Toddler Nursery Rhymes and Songs
http://www.rif.org/kids/leadingtoreading/en/leadingtoreading.htm
Movement Information & Activities: Best Practices for Physical
Activity: A Guide to Help Children Grow Up Healthy
http://www.nemours.org/content/dam/nemours/www/filebox/service/preventive/nhps/paguide2010.pdf
Gross and Fine Motor Activities for Infants and toddlers
http://www.earlychildhood.msstate.edu/resources/motoractivities/pdfs/infant-toddler.pdf
Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and
Outdoor Play (HSBS): Activity Resources for Parents.
http://www.aahperd.org/headstartbodystart/ KidsHealth: Nutrition
& Fitness Center http://kidshealth.org/parent/ Sesame Street:
Healthy Habits for Life (Caregiver and Parent Downloadable Kits)
http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/topicsandactivities/toolkits/healthyhabits
LETs MOVE! Child Care (Activities)
http://healthykidshealthyfuture.org/activities.html Making Good
Decisions About Screen Time for Young Children Visit:
www.zerotothree.org (search screen time) Movement Lesson Plan Ideas
for Preschoolers
http://www.pecentral.org/lessonideas/searchresults.asp?category=50
-
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Move with Me Online Learning Unit
at www.raising-readers.org Raising Readers in Story County,
2012
16 References: Allen, K.E., & Marotz, L.R. (2000). By the
ages: Behavior & development of children pre-birth through
eight. Canada: Delmar Thomson Learning. American Academy of
Pediatrics. Ages and Stages: Fitness: Toddlers and Preschoolers at
HealthyChildren.org. Better Brains for Babies: Retrieved on
December 17, 2011, from
http://www.fcs.uga.edu/ext/bbb/playBenefits.php Callender, S.A.
(2007). Gross and fine motor activities for early childhood:
Infants and toddlers. Mississippi State, MS: Mississippi State
University Early Childhood Institute. Epstein, A.S., (2007). The
intentional teachers: Choosing the best strategies for young
childrens learning. Washington DC: National Association for the
Education of Young Children. Goodway, J.D., and Robinson, L.E.,
(2006). SKIPing toward an active start: Promoting physical activity
in preschoolers. Beyond the Journal: Young Children on the Web, May
2006. Retrieved on December 29, 2011, from
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/SKIPing_GoodwayBTJ.pdf Head Start,
Body Start: National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor
Play at http://www.aahperd.org/headstartbodystart/onlinelearning
Iowa Early Learning Standards (2006). Iowa Department of Education
and Iowa Department of Human Services. Retrieved on November 11,
2011 at: http://dhs.iowa.gov/docs/IELS_2-20-006.pdf Iowa Department
of Education (2010). Iowa core curriculum: Birth to five essential
concepts and skills. Des Moines, IA: Early Childhood Service
Bureau. LETs MOVE! Child Care at
http://healthykidshealthyfuture.org/activities.html Morian, V., and
A. Rupnow (2000). Growing up fit-Preschool fitness activities. ISU
University Extension Electronic Version March 2000. Retrieved at:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/publications/pm1359b.pdf National
Association of Sport and Physical Education (2009). Active start: a
statement of physical activity guidelines for children from birth
to five years. National Association of Sport and Physical
Education. National Association for the Education of Young Children
(2012). Developmentally appropriate practice and play: Online
professional development resource from NAEYC handout. Retrieved at:
http://www.naeyc.org/files/tyc/file/DAP%20and%20Play%20Handout.pdf
Parish, L.E., & Rudisill, M.E., HAPPE: toddlers in physical
play. Beyond the Journal: Young Children on the Web, May 2006.
Retrieved on December 29, 2011, from
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/HAPPE.pdf Preventing Childhood
Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs (2010). Developed by
the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health
Association, and National Resource Center for Health and Safety in
Child Care and Early Education. Retrieved on November 11, 2011,
from
http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/bnp/nupao/documents/CFOC_Preventing%20Obesity.pdf
Sanders, S.W. (2002). Active for life: Developmentally appropriate
movement programs for young children. Washington, D.C.: National
Association for the Education of Young Children. Sasse, M (2009).
Smart start: How exercise can transform your childs life. Wollombi:
Australia: Exisle Publishing Limited. Schiller, P. (2005). Complete
resource book for infants: Over 700 experiences for children from
birth to 18 months. Beltsville, Maryland: Gryphon House. Teaching
young children: Family fun and fitness. NAECY.Org/TYC. Retrieved on
December 29, 2011, from
http://www.naeyc.org/files/tyc/file/MessageV3N2.pdf