Creative movement is an ideal way to help young children develop critical- thinking and problem-solving skills. Most young children are, by nature, extremely physical. They delight in exploring the world with their bodies and expressing their ideas and feelings through movement (NDEO 2005; Lobo & Winsler 2006; Lorenzo-Lasa, Ideishi, & Ideishi 2007).

When presented with movement ideas or problems that can be solved with a movement response, many young children create movement spontaneously. Furthermore, linking movement experiences with language - both receptive language (understanding that of others) and expressive language (sharing one’s own thoughts and ideas) - builds children’s thinking skills. Children go through a thinking process when given a problem to solve. Movement provides the cognitive loop between the idea, problem, or intent and the outcome or solution (NDEO 2005).

While engaging in this activity, your child will explore the various ways in which his body can move!

Steps:

1. Empty out a Kleenex box and remove the plastic window from the box. Cut slits on each side of the box large enough to slip a canvas belt through. Reinforce the corners with duct tape

2. The player puts on the belt and box contraption, making sure that the box is resting just above their backside. Place 8 ping pong balls in the box

3. When the one-minute timer begins, jump, wiggle and shake trying to remove all eight of the balls out of the box. Complete the task before the timer runs out