Let’sMoveIndoorsandOutside
Whatahappyscene.Thesunisshiningandeveryoneishappilyplayingoutdoors.Thislooksjustideal!Especiallyforyoungchildrenwhoarealwaysinmovement.Astheyexperiencetheworldaroundthembyexploringitinrelationshiptotheirphysicalbodies,weneedtoprovidethemwithphysicalspaceinwhichtheycanmovefreely.
Thebestplacefordelightfulmovementandexplorationistheoutdoors.Evennowwestillcangooutsideifwepracticesocialdistancing,andfollowlocalguidelinesandallthebasichygienicrecommendations.
Asmanyofusareworkingfromhomeandweareoftenconfinedtolimitedspaceweareallinneedoffreshairandphysicalactivities.Lookatyourneighborhood!
Arethereparksnearbyorquietstreetstotakealongwalk?Inanycase,makeityourroutinetogooutsidetwiceadayregardlessoftheweather.Youcanmakethispartofyourdailyschedule.
Yourchildrenwillbedelightedifyouskip,gallop,hopononefootorbothfeetforsomedistance.Youcanpretendtobehorsesorrabbits.Takeajumpropeandturnitsoyourchildcanpractice.Don’tforgettosingasongwhilecountingthejumps.Balancealongoncurbs(wherevertherearenocars)orplayhopscotchonthesidewalk.Makesuretobringaballtoplaytossandcatch.
SomeofushavemoreaccesstotheoutdoorsandcanevensitonabenchwhileourchildrenbuildfairylandsandgnomecavesfromMotherNature’streasures.Youngchildrenareallmovementandareveryhappywhenbeinginnature.Afterspendingtimeoutsideduringtheday,theywillalsofallasleepmoreeasilyintheevening.
Childrenalsoneedtomovewhenindoors.Trytoprovideanareainyourhomewheretheycanplayfreely,movefurniturearound,climbonasturdytableandjumpdown,buildhousesandcaves,crawlonthefloorandevenplaycatchusingsoftpompoms(whichyoucanmaketogetherasacraftactivity).
Asaspecialtreatyoucanprepareanobstaclecourseforthemeveryeveningbeforedinnertime.Becreativeandchallengetheirsenses.Createnarrowbridgestocrossover(playstringsonthefloor),steppingstonestobalanceon(booksorbigpots),mountainstoclimb(sturdytablesorchairs,stairs),widemeadowstocrawlthrough(livingroomfloor),farmstopushthewheelbarrow(hallway,holdingyourchildren’sankleswhiletheywalkontheirhands),lakestostandinlikeaflamingoononeleg(closeyoureyesandpretendtosleep)…Integratelittle
challengingfingergamesandjoyfullysingyourfavoritefamilysongs.Andafteryouhadfuntogetheryoucanputalltheequipmentintoitsplaceandtellyourchildrenthattheywillbeinchargeofsettinguptheobstaclecoursethenextday.
ByAnkeScheinfeld,RudolfSteinerSchoolKindergarten
