Encouraging Movement in the Classroom

I am often asked how I get the girls to stay seated at the table during school.  The truth is…I don’t!  I believe their bodies were meant for movement and we “school” with that in mind.  I’ve always loved Nicolette Sowder’s quote:

“If we want them to move mountains, we must first allow them to get out of their chairs!”. 

So, here are a few options to encourage movement in your child’s day, especially when the weather keeps you indoors. Enjoy! 

Chair Ball – We use this at our school table as a seat (that allows for bouncing) and then the girls can flip it over, grab on and bounce around the house. Our youngest, at one point, was so obsessed with this ball, she parked it next to her bed and bounced out on it in the mornings! This chair ball is fabulous for building core strength and great for wiggly kids.  If you want something a little more discreet, I highly recommend a wobble seat, perfect for restaurants or co-ops with friends. It truly gives them a chance to “actively sit” and increases their attention span. 

Resistance bands – These stretchy bands can be fastened around the legs of your child’s chair. This allows them to push and pull against the bands with their feet.  It increases concentration and releases pent up energy. Our kids love them!

Balance Boards  – The girls will hop on their boards while I read, when answering questions or they will set it up next to the table and work away on their lessons. I love that it can be flipped upside down to introduce a whole new option for play. 

Scooter Boards – There are a million ways a scooter board can be introduced to your school day…I think we have tried them all! We often will place a “goal” at the end of our long hallway and the girls will go back and forth to retrieve the desired item.  We have done this with puzzle pieces, alphabet or number cards, days of the week, months of the year, spelling their name etc…back and forth, one at a time until they have retrieved all the pieces and have them in order. They go on their bellies, using their arms to “walk” along or on their bottoms using their feet to scoot forward or backwards…the possibilities are endless.

Swings – We purchased a swing for a corner of our living room and have never looked back.  The girls love swaying back and forth while I read to them or while discussing subjects together.  

Pop-up Tunnel – I love the huge impact this tunnel has when I bring it out AND I triple love that I can just fold it flat and tuck it under the bed when we are all done! We use this mainly when we set up obstacle courses but often the girls will use it as a little hideaway to read in.

Mini-trampoline – Our little mini-trampoline has been going strong for the past five years. The girls call out answers to flash cards or lesson reviews while bouncing away.  This is perfect for burning off steam and is excellent in boosting the circulation of their lymphatic systems. 

Scooters – We also bring out the scooters when cabin fever really sets in during the long months of winter.  Around the kitchen island and down the long hallway they go…reciting poetry, answering questions or just listening to music or audiobooks. 

Jump Rope – Another useful tool to have when the outdoors are simply not an option!  Both of our girls love having little breaks to skip.  Put on a favorite song or audiobook and let them burn off some energy.  

 

What are your favorite ways to keep your littles active while learning when outdoors just isn’t an option?

 

Sue

 

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