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Merry Fitness!
Holiday Activities to Delight the Whole Family
By Rae Pica, Children's Movement Specialist
empty boxes, presents of various sizes and the Christmas tree. Be sure there are obstacles for your toddler to go under, over, around and through. Physically experiencing these positional prepositions means they'll have much more relevance to your little one when the time comes to study them.
Even if there's not a flake to be found, you can practice this time-honored tradition. All you need is a little space on your living room floor! Lie on your back and show your toddler how you move your arms and legs out and in (like jumping jacks performed on your back) to pretend you're an angel. Then invite her to try. This may be challenging for her little body to coordinate, but the fun is in the trying!
Ask your toddler to use his body to make the shape of a Christmas tree, a candy cane, a round ornament or a star. Pretend you're building a snowperson using his body. How would you position his arms and legs to give the impression of round balls of snow? Then let him do the same to you!
Ask your toddler to pretend to be snowflakes falling, whirling and swirling in the wind. (Do snowflakes move lightly or heavily? Loudly or softly?) Don't just sing about Rudolph – pretend to be him! Imagine empty gift-wrap rolls are batons or rhythm instruments nd hold a parade around the living room. Play Follow the Leader with everyone in the family lined up and imagining you're in a one-horse open sleigh, traveling over the river and through the woods. When it's time to wind down, imagine you're candles slowly melting. This is an excellent way to rid the muscles of tension.
