Making Muscles!

Your Child's Play Times Can Build Body Control with These Simple Steps

SKILL DEVELOPMENT Series:   PART FIVE 

MAKING MUSCLES!

Discover the 5 Tasks for Controlling the Body in Motion & the Teaching Objectives

Developing the Body and Mind:  Making Muscles! When the basic locomotor steps have been taught and are beginning to be mastered, the body's alignment and development can be a smart focus. The preschoolers love repetition.  And what better tool to use to strengthen muscles and smooth the sequencing of movements?

Body Control Develops Preschool Learning
As Exercise for Kids
Often Is Simply Educational Games for Kids

Task ONE: ARM-Y Crawl ..Using upper body to MOVE Body

STEP BY STEP PROGRESSIONS

To work moving skills during kids play try this: This skill is HARDER than it looks. Try it yourself…for a few feet of crawling….

YOU can make a big difference in your youngster's locomotion abilities during their play by encouraging attempts.

After this series, read more ways to train their skills.

Muscles are made by doing this task WELL.

Starting position: Lie on the floor, head first, with the arms in front of the body.

1. Bend both elbows and dig them into the floor. Make a FIST with both hands.
2. Ask the child to place their feet together-behind them, Touching each foot together. Toes are really point-y!
3. Keeping the hips and legs quite, ask the child to MOVE forward, on their elbows, pulling their body FORWARD.
4. Using the elbows ONLY.  Do the ARM-y CRAWL.
5. Keep the legs still!  Do not allow the knees to bend or assist in the attempts to move forward.
6. That point IS VERY IMPORTANT.

HINT:  To do this well, the child needs upper back strength and arm strength. Do just a few walks in the beginning, if moving is really tough.

TASK #1 OBJECTIVE:    To maintain good body form and support body weight on the arms. Good upper back strengthening is promoted.

Task TWO: Touch TEN Count Work

STEP BY STEP PROGRESSIONS

To work moving skills during kids play try this: This skill is HARDER than it looks. Try it yourself…lots of stomach muscles are needed!

YOU can make a big difference in your youngster's coordination abilities during their play by encouraging attempts.

Muscles are made by doing this task WELL.

Starting position: Rear arm support, while seated on the floor. Legs tucked. Toes are OFF the floor.

1. This task IS DIFFICULT! Extend both legs to the ceiling.
2. Lower both legs to the LONG position, slightly off the floor. Use a COUNT of TEN to reach the long/low position. HOLD one second.
3. Bend the knees IN to start position.
4. Repeat legs extending and HOLD.
   
5. Variations: when the legs are in the long/low position:  separate the feet to a STRADDLE position.
6. Bring feet together.
7. Variations: when in a straddle position, bring feet together and cross the ankles.
8. REST. Place the legs on the floor.

HINT:  Build the number of repetitions as the lessons continue. Watch for straight back, neck extended, legs and arms straight.. Encourage good efforts.

TASK #2 OBJECTIVE:    To maintain good body form and support body weight on the arms. Good upper back strengthening and abdominal use is promoted. Encourage good efforts. and Correct form carefully!

Special Moving Skills Includes USE of UPPER BODY and it will make a HUGE difference
In body control and building brain connections while developing preschool learning.

Task THREE:  Arch Up  ~  EVERYTHING DOWN!

STEP BY STEP PROGRESSIONS

Try to work on skills during kids play.  Try this: it is HARDER than it looks. Try it yourself…lots of arm and back muscles are needed!

YOU can make a big difference in your youngster's coordination abilities during their play by encouraging attempts.

Muscles are made by doing this task WELL.

Starting position: Face down, long lying position, hands under the shoulders. Insteps are stretched on the floor.

1. Flex toes under to bear weight of legs/body. This task will use the word cues: Say: Arch, UP, EVERYTHING DOWN.
2. From that position, life the shoulders off the floor by extending the arms. Hips remain in contact with the floor.
3. HOLD one second. SAY:  ARCH.
4. LIFT the hips OFF the floor. Body makes a LONG line with TOES flexed and bearing weight.   SAY:  UP
5. SAY: EVERYTHING DOWN!
   
6. Repeat pattern five times. Go SLOW at all times.
7. Build repetitions over future lessons.

TASK #3 OBJECTIVE:    This task develops skills in maneuvering the body while supporting weight on the hands.

Task FOUR:  Rock 'N Roll to  ~  STAND!

STEP BY STEP PROGRESSIONS

Try to work on skills during kids play.  Try this: it is HARDER than it looks. Try it yourself…lots of arm and back muscles are needed!

YOU can make a big difference in your youngster's coordination abilities during their play by encouraging attempts.

Muscles are made by doing this task WELL.

Starting position: Seated on the floor with the knees bent and feet placed flat on the floor.

1. Place each hand on one lower leg for the ROCK 'N ROLL position [top of the socks].
2. Perform a series of 3 or 4 Rock 'N Rolls.
3. REST. Explain that on the next series of three rocks, the child should try to PULL UP to a STAND–on their feet to finish TALL.
4. Use these words: READY = first Rock 'N Roll   SET = second Rock 'N Roll    UP = pull to a STAND
5. This is difficult. It needs lots of practice and attempts will be needed until patterning is smooth and strong.

TASK #4 OBJECTIVE:   This task further develops explosive poser and coordination. Timing skills are rehearsed. 

Task FIVE: CRAB WALK

STEP BY STEP PROGRESSIONS

To work moving skills during kids play try this: This skill is HARDER than it looks. Try it yourself…for a few feet of crawling….

YOU can make a big difference in your youngster's locomotion abilities during their play by encouraging attempts.

Muscles are made by doing this task WELL.

Starting position: Have the child sit on their bottom and place their hands on the floor, behind them, fingers pointing away from their head. Hands are shoulder width apart. * Head will lead the body movement—>

1. From one end of the play area, PRESS the tummy UP towards the ceiling. Make a TABLE of the torso.
2. Use the image of a CRAB to get the arms and legs working well. CRAB WALK.
3. Stand to the side of the child and press your hand under their back at the waistline to LIFT the torso. Ask them to HOLD that position.

    *NOTE: Pretend that you might serve a cup of HOT CHOCOLATE…on their tummy. This might keep their tummy TALL and lifted.

      4.  Have them CRAB WALK forward.

      5. The SECRET to this task is pressing through the arms into the shoulder area to keep BODY high.

      6. Let the head extend from the back. Do not allow the chin to help the movement.  Arms must work and press body UP.

TASK #5 OBJECTIVE: This task will really increase body awareness and encourage body management skills and strengthen the abdominals, upper back and the arms.

• Make sure that you and your child try all the sections of this KidSKILLS Training Program.

• 1. Feet First   Movement in Place  PART 1
  2. Moving RIGHT Along! ~ Locomotion Skills~PART 2
  3. Go! STOP! GO! ~ Starting & Stopping Motion~PART 3
  4. UP and OVER~ ~ Leaving the Ground!~PART 4
  5. Making Muscles!~  Developing Strength~PART 5
  6. HANG  ON! ~ Handling Objects~PART 6

Each SKILL SET has a series tasks to try under your watchful eyes.
Theses tiny jobs are quick to do.

Think of each task as: little jobs to do. But they will attempted under your educated eyes.

We all realize that PLAY is the work of children. Get your kids to work as they PLAY! Our learning never ends. Kids learning never ends.