We all know the best way to calm the wiggles is more moving.  Remember Ms. Kay’s story?  Just two minutes of moving brought calm to her classroom so she could move her circle time forward.  Instead of battling the wiggles, she leaned into them.  Her idea was simple, but having numerous easy ideas in your back pocket can be a classroom game changer.

Obstacle Courses

These are easy to assemble and can be a super bang for your buck because children can help set them up and take them down, doubling up on their strength-building.  Consider:

  • Crawling under tables.  This helps kids build a mental map of their bodies, incorporates crawling to help them write, and helps build core strength.
  • Weaving around chairs.  This helps kids cross the midline while mastering spatial skills.
  • Jump over empty paper towel rolls or on carpet squares.  This helps kids with patterning, rhythm, and sequencing all necessary for strong problem solving, creative and critical thinking, as well as language and math.
  • Balancing on cardboard bricks.  This supports vestibular development and core strength.

But obstacle courses don’t have to end and begin in the classroom!  Take a roll of painter’s tape with you for your next transition and create an obstacle course on the way: Zig-zags for balance and crossing the midline, x’s for jumping (or hopping on one foot), one long piece for balancing.  Don’t forget the walls!  Tape on the walls can be for hands while tape on the floor can be for feet.  Do more than one set and children can jump hands and feet together down the hall getting a huge dose of motor planning work.

But what do you do for the kids who are waiting their turn? 

  • Wall sits while singing the ABCs.
  • Jumping jack counting.
  • Plank while you sing a class favorite
  • And don’t forget yoga.  It doesn’t take up a lot of space but incorporates a lot of strength and skill building.  Try this and this.

Transitions

Ready to tackle transitions without the bubble-in-your-mouth battle? How about creating a story to get you from point A to point B?  A sailboat trip to an island can include craps, fish, birds, quick sand, balancing on driftwood.  A trip to the zoo can incorporate all kinds of animal movements from elephants to bears and a camping trip can include pitching the tent, hauling in the wood, and any animal you meet along the way.

Remember the more you get kids moving, the more their brains will be satisfied with the information they need from their bodies and the more calm the brains and bodies can be.  The brain needs the body to learn, and when we fight that innate need, we make everything harder than it needs to be.

Curriculum

Have you seen our curriculum for 2s and 3s?  Power packed and loaded up with 2 hours of professional development in microdoses.  Our games are kid-tested and teacher-approved.  Learn more here.

Professional Development, Training, and Consulting

We love to meet the amazing people who believe in the power of moving for improved learning and behavior, and we love to help them further that mission.  Find out more here.

If Broccoli Were a Cookie Cookbook

Got picky eaters?  Want to incorporate math, science, language arts, and more into your classroom or at home with cooking?  Check out our cookbook!