Between the ages of three and six children develop fundamental movement skills which are the building blocks that enable them to progress and develop a full range of skills. For example, by six years of age, a normally developing child will be able to run, jump, hop, skip, climb, throw, catch, kick, strike, manipulate, write and draw. This ability to learn movement competence creates the essential nerve cell networks which are the very essence of the learning process.

Setting a high level of activities that encourage body awareness or movement competence will provide the opportunity for children to develop physical literacy alongside their literacy and numeracy skills. Initially this might include the opportunity for children to experience a sense of balance and relaxation and to develop the ability to move with control, precision and clarity. It is important for children to develop these fundamental movement skills and sport skills as they form the foundation for more complex skills later on. These more complex skills are the movements used to participate in leisure and recreational activities and which lead to a healthy and active life.

This activity will work on improving your child's speed and agility while engaging his brain in critical thinking!

Steps:

1. Decide on everyone's favorite music. It could be any music from nursery rhymes to Hip-Hop!

2. Before the start of the game, place markers around the designated room/ area. You can use anything as markers: Dish towels, stickers, pillows, solid paper, place mats, or anything else that is flat that you can stand on safely (without skidding)

3. March, walk, dance, hop, etc. around in a circle on the mats and freeze when the music stops

4. To increase complexity and learning, have the kids call out the name of the marker they are on (specially of the marker is a laminated sheet with an animal name or image etc.)

5. For older/ more advanced children, you can build more than one rule. Example: Once the music stops, call out the marker you are on, Jump 3 times and then put your hands on your knees.

6. Everyone can take turns to control the remote and press pause and play

Note: Suggested options for movement include: walking, hopping, marching, jumping on one foot, switch feet, skipping (to teach a young child say "step-hop, step-hop"), twirling, side stepping, switch sides, crawling, crab walking, walking on tip toes, tiny steps, long strides, lunges, step-touch the ground, step-touch the ground, step clap, step clap, gallop, backwards walking

Another spin on this activity is to walk and call out hand motions: clapping, reaching to the sky, reaching for your toes, spinning your outstretched arms, bicep curls, reach one arm, then the other, hands on your hips, hands on your shoulders, punching in front of you, hands on your knees then criss cross them