Move Like An Animal: Growing gross-motor control through dramatic-play
Young children should be getting about sixty minutes of exercise everyday. However, with busy schedules and inaccessible local parks, this can be difficult for many parents to accomplish on their own. Luckily, young children are extremely imaginative, and we can use their imagination to help provide engaging physical activities, even indoors.
To begin this activity start a conversation with your child about their favorite animals. An easy to way to engage your child about animals is to reference familiar animals. These can be animals you have at home, such as dogs or cats, or popular characters such as sonic the hedgehog.
For example, you might start by saying, "I remember that watching sonic the hedgehog yesterday, it made me wonder, how do hedgehogs move?" At this point your child might start moving in a way that they feel models the movement of a hedgehog. Remember, the goal is not accuracy. The goal is to get your child moving and talking.
Next you can invite your child to participate by asking them, "what is your favorite animal?" Acknowledge their response by asking questions about their animal. Make sure to follow up with, "how does *suggested animal* move?" As your child imitates the animal they suggested, do your best to copy your child's movements. Try incorporating the sounds they animals would make as well.
The point is to be silly and have fun while moving. Young children reproduce their knowledge through dramatic-play, so the more often you engage with them through acting and play, the more you will be able to see what they know and expand their knowledge.
To begin this activity start a conversation with your child about their favorite animals. An easy to way to engage your child about animals is to reference familiar animals. These can be animals you have at home, such as dogs or cats, or popular characters such as sonic the hedgehog.
For example, you might start by saying, "I remember that watching sonic the hedgehog yesterday, it made me wonder, how do hedgehogs move?" At this point your child might start moving in a way that they feel models the movement of a hedgehog. Remember, the goal is not accuracy. The goal is to get your child moving and talking.
Next you can invite your child to participate by asking them, "what is your favorite animal?" Acknowledge their response by asking questions about their animal. Make sure to follow up with, "how does *suggested animal* move?" As your child imitates the animal they suggested, do your best to copy your child's movements. Try incorporating the sounds they animals would make as well.
The point is to be silly and have fun while moving. Young children reproduce their knowledge through dramatic-play, so the more often you engage with them through acting and play, the more you will be able to see what they know and expand their knowledge.
