Ages
Time
Equipment
Benefits
5 minutes
Bean Bags, Balls, Soft Toys
Bucket or Box
-
Body Awareness
-
Core Strength
3+
Moving Day
About the Game
Using other body parts for lifting and carrying can be a fun thing to try and it helps little ones discover how to use their body in many different ways.
How?
Have the child sit in between the bucket and the balls, knees bent and feet together. Have them swivel on their bottom then use both feet to pick up a ball, swivel around and drop it in the bucket. Continue the game until all the balls are in the bucket.
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Why?
Kids often do everything with their hands and forget how helpful feet can be. Using feet in movement games also helps children learn about their body map and where it begins and ends.
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What You Can Do
Take their shoes and socks off for this game. They’ll have a better grip and it will give them better sensory feedback.
How to Play
Set Up.
Collect a variety of balls, bean bags and things barefeet can grasp. Place them in a pile about 2 feet from a bucket.
Game Play
Feet First
Have them sit in between the bucket and the pile of objects, knees bent and feet together. Have them swivel on their bottom and pick up an object with their feet, swivel back around and drop it in the bucket. Continue the game until all the balls are in the bucket. (If the bucket is too tall, you can use a hoop or circle on the floor.)
For More Fun & Challenge
Encourage them to swivel in both directions.
Try using other parts of the body like the elbows, wrists or knees, to pick up, swivel, and drop.
Go on a hunt for more things to pick up. Look for different sizes and shapes.
Use kitchen tongs to pick up instead of using their hands.
Have them close their eyes while playing the game.
And there's more...