19. Week
We can already throw a balloon and a scarf, but what about a basketball? That's harder! Can you judge the distance and how much force we need to throw? Let's give it a try! Next, we will relax our shoulders, elbows, and wrists for writing, do another maze and draw with both hands at the same time.
Video, download and description of exercises
Files:
Goal!
Have the child stand about a meter away from a basket/box.
Then the child tries to throw a ball (or stuffed animal) into the basket.
If he/she manage well, he/she takes a step back and tries again.
Goal:
Improve coordination of movement
Improve hand-eye coordination
Improve distance estimation (spacial orientation).
Circles
This exercise is an extended version of the "big circles" exercise. We already know how to do big circles in the shoulders, now we're going to make it harder and try it from the elbows and wrists.
Have the child standing holding the scarf in their right hand.
First the child draws large circles with the scarf, using their shoulder to make the movements (it's important to draw in front of the body and cross the midline of the body with this action).
Next, the child takes hold of the scarf with both hands and twirls it.
The child then switches the scarf to their left hand and repeats the twirling motion, again using their shoulder to make big circles.
Then, the child twists the scarf to the other side and repeats the above steps, starting with their left hand, then both hands, and ending with their right hand.
Now we do the same thing, but we do circles at the elbows (first with the right hand, then with both hands, then left and back).
Then once more but from the wrist (first with the right hand, then with both hands, then with the left and back).
Finally , we end with big circles in the shoulders.
To ensure that the child crosses the midline of their body during this activity, it's important to keep the movements in front of the body, rather than beside it. For larger children, the activity can be enhanced by using a long jump rope and allowing an older sibling to jump rope while taking turns.
Goal:
Improve coordination of movement
Relax the shoulders, elbows, and wrists for graphomotor skills
Improve cooperation of brain hemispheres.
Eyes like an owl
Have the child sit or lay on the ground (or in bed).
Then he/she rubs his palms together energetically to generate warmth and energy.
Then, the child places their hands gently over the eyes, feeling the warmth and energy flow into them.
Goal:
Enhance eye function
Improve focus
Promote relaxation.
Maze
Use the attachments. On the first and second day, use attachment number I. If the child notices that the task is the same and remembers the route well, on the next day (day 3) give him the tasks from attachment number II and on day 4 use attachment number III. Then repeat the tasks, so on day 5 use attachment II again and on day 6 use attachment III. If the child does not notice that the task is the same on Day 2, or still finds the path very difficult, give him the tasks from Appendix II on Days 3 and 4 and use the tasks from Appendix III on Days 5 and 6.
Goal:
Improve hand-eye coordination
Improve graphomotor skills
Improve visual memory.
Wheels on the bus
We'll draw with both hands at once. We draw on the floor, on a white board or on a big paper. The hands move spontaneously in the rhythm of the song “Wheels on the bus” in the opposite direction and support each other so that the movements are smooth.
The wheels on the bus go round and round
Round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town.
Note: Note: the hands make opposite movements, i.e., when one hand goes outwards, the other hand does outwards too, when it goes towards the centre, the other hand goes towards the centre too. This will improve the cooperation of the brain hemispheres. You can draw to the rhythm of any poem or song. The power of imagination has no boundaries. 😊
Goal:
Improve graphomotor skills
Improve hand-eye coordination
Improve cooperation of the brain hemispheres.
Next week I'll teach you some more rhymes and we'll move and draw along. See you soon!