This activity promotes development and learning by encouraging children to maintain focus and sustain attention, develop emotional regulation through heavy bodywork, and use large muscles to move and balance their own body.

Materials Needed:

• Timer or music,
• Yoga mat or towel (optional)

Participants: This activity is intended for adult/child interaction or independent play.

Directions:

• Step 1: Find an open space and layout a yoga mat or towel for your child. Movements for this activity can be done in one place to keep children grounded, or you can let children move around the space. Choose what works best for your child and space.
• Step 2: Have your child do each movement for 45 seconds. When the timer or music goes off, they will rest for 15 seconds between each.
  • Frog Jumps – hop up and down like a frog.
  • Bear Walk – with your hands and feet on the floor, hips high, walk left to right.
  • Gorilla Shuffle – in a low squat, use hands to balance and shuffle front to back.
  • Starfish Jumps – jump up and down spreading your arms and legs wide (like jumping jacks).
  • Cheetah Run – run in place as fast as you can, like a cheetah.
  • Crab Walk – sitting down, put palms of hands on the ground behind you, lift hips up and crawl on hands and feet.
  • Elephant Stomps – march in place, stomping your feet as hard as you can.