About the activity

hopscotch

This is probably the best pattern for pre-schoolers.

Movement is one of the main keys to learning and there are a range of movements that are useful for the brain. Hopscotch has many movement opportunities. This activity shows how you can take something that is ‘school’ fun and adapt it to your pre-school grandchildren.

UNDER 2 AND MOBILE

Make some squares (the hop-scotch pattern would be best) with chalk outside on the concrete, or masking tape inside on the carpet. Put a toy or interesting item in each square for non-mobile babies, for mobile babies put the items randomly. Hold the child and bounce them from one square to another in the right pattern. Give them time to investigate each item they find. Count as you bounce.

Benefits:

  • Children learn through patterns and the hopscotch squares create a pattern.
  • The child’s vestibular system is stimulated with each bounce.
  • Children like to touch things as it is the best way for them to gather information.

Over 2

Make some squares (the Hop-scotch pattern would be best) with chalk outside on the concrete, or masking tape inside on the carpet. Put numbers in the squares. Let them place/throw something like a little beanbag (so that it will not roll away) in one of the squares. Most of them will not be able to hop, so jump into each square (when the squares are side by side suggest they put a foot in each square) until they get to the square with the beanbag. Have them pick up the bean bag and jump back to the start.

Benefits:

  • When children can jump it shows that their brain has developed a set of skills necessary for further skill development.
  • Jumping stimulates the vestibular system.
  • Balancing in the square to pick up the beanbag helps with body awareness and muscle tone.