ABCs for Creative Movement in Early Childhood

Large Motor Skills and Activities Alligator Crawl Touch chest and palms of hands to floor. Using alternating legs and arms, push-pull self forward Angels in the Snow On backs, arms at sides, legs together. bilateral movement arms and legs flap in unison unilateral movement right side of body, then left alternates cross-lateral right arm / left leg together

Bear Walk Bend forward and touch ground with both hands on floor. Travel forward by moving the right arm and right leg simultaneously, then left arm and leg. Walk slow and deliberate. Bunny Hop 1) Squat position Hands jump forward and then feet follow. 2) Try the traditional Bunny Hop to music crazy but fun for a party. Balls of Every Kind Bounce, throw, catch, hit, roll, throw into something. Bowling Game Use empty detergent bottles as pins. Balance Activities 1) Balance beam sideways, forward, backwards, with bean bag on head, etc. 2) Balance on one foot, stork stand, balance bean bag. Back-to-Back 1) Group game. 2) Partners lock arms with back together, sit down and get up Bike Riding Body Shapes / Body Letters Use your body to make a given shape or letter may need a partner!

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Crab Walk From squat position, reach backward and put hands flat on floor without sitting down. Walk in direction of feet, keeping head and body in straight line. Duck Waddle knees-bent position, hands on hips, walk forward. Donkey Kick On backs, arms at sides, legs together. Dodge Ball Dice Movement Game Move a body part the same number that is thrown on a dice

Exercise to Music Move to the music! Be creative with the music

Egg Sit Squat on floor, grasp ankles, rock back and forth. Frog Jump From a squat position with hands on floor between legs, travel forward by leaping from all fours. Flip-Flops Lie on stomach looking right. On the word flip, the child looks left and assumes left position. On the word flop, the child switches back to the right position. Forward Rolls do a somersault Freeze (Musical) Children skip in circle while music plays, but must freeze when it stops. Gallop Group Active Games games with rules such as Ring a Rosie Hop On right foot, on left foot. Inchworm Support body on hands and feet with back straight. Keeping hands in place and knees stiff, walk on toes with short steps until feet are near hands. Then, keeping feet in place, walk forward with hands taking short steps.

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Jumping Jacks Jump Rope get creative with a jump rope snakes alive etc. Jog Jump-the-Creek Using a long piece of elastic stretched across the space where children can run and jump, recite the following verse: The river is deep, the river is wide, everyone JUMP to the other side. Kick the Ball Kangaroo Jumps

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Lobster Walk Same position as crab walk, only walk forward, not sideways. Log Roll Lie on floor with arms extended and touching over the head and toes pointed. Lift arms, head and legs off floor and roll onto side, stomach, other side.

Monkey Run Run forward on all fours, being sure to look up (strengthens neck

muscles)

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Octopus Walkwalk on all fours and pretend you have four more! Pretend Ice Skating Put waxed paper over stocking feet, secure with rubber bands; children ice skate on carpets. Parachute Play

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Relaxation Rag Doll Children lie on ground, talk them through becoming completely relaxes, like a rag doll, so when you come around and lift a body part slightly and let go, it drops to floor. Row, Row, Row Your Boat A partner rocking activity. Rocking Chair On stomach, lift arms, head and legs off floor and rock.

Seal Walk Assume a position with body supported by hands; back straight and feet dragging behind. Walk with hands. Skip Sliding Sledding Scooter

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Tip-toes Twister Game

V-Sit Balance on seat with arms and legs extended to V shape. Windmills Standing position with arms straight out from sides and feet apart. Reach right hand across body to touch the left toe, return to starting position, and repeat with left hand to right toe.

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