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