17. Week
This week, we'll replace the balloon for a scarf (or towel). So, we'll have to be a little faster, but we'll manage! We will also continue in our efforts to relax our shoulder as part of our graphomotor skills training to ensure that we can work effectively when seated at a table afterward.
Video, download and description of exercises
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Keepy Uppy experts
This time we'll be throwing a scarf (or towel) instead of a balloon. You have several possible options:
You're either gonna stand still and throw a scarf at each other.
Or you can try to walk around the room, throwing a scarf, but when you meet, the child throws the scarf to you, you throw the scarf to the child, and then you move on.
Another option is to add some tasks. For example, you throw a scarf and before you catch it, you have to clap twice or turn around.
Goal:
Improve hand-eye coordination
Improve coordination of movement
Improve visual perception and concentration
Big circles
Now that we have the scarf at our disposal, we will integrate it into our activities without delay:
Have the child standing holding the scarf in their right hand.
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.
Finally, 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.
Note: 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 for graphomotor skills
Improve cooperation of brain hemispheres.
Skipping
Start by standing straight with your feet together. Then, take a small hop with your right foot and bring your left foot up, so you're standing on your right foot only.
Next, take a small hop with your left foot and bring your right foot up, so you're standing on your left foot only.
Continue to alternate between small hops on each foot while bringing the other foot up, so you're essentially hopping on one foot at a time.
As you get more comfortable with the basic movement, you can start to add more height and speed to your hops, making them bigger and faster. Feel free to skip all around the room.
Remember, skipping takes practice, so don't worry if you don't get it right away. Just keep practicing, and soon you'll be skipping with ease!
Goal:
Improve coordination of movement
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
Row, row, row your boat
Use the attachments. Let´s draw horizontal lines, for every word one.
Use the song row, row, row you boat:
Row, row, row your boat
gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
life if but a dream.
When it goes well, try to draw a line for every syllable.
Goal:
Improve graphomotor skills
Improve hand-eye coordination
Improve sense of rhythm.
How did it go? Next week we will play the bank robber! I look forward to seeing you!