If you’re a savvy parent who doesn’t allow children to turn instantly to screens for their entertainment in free time, sometimes it is useful to suggest games to play. Movement games are beneficial because, apart from being fun, they help to ensure that important brain areas and motor skills are developed.

 Remember that not all movement is beneficial – if disorganised, rapid movements were to result in efficient brain ‘wiring’, our hyperactive children would be amazingy capable!

This post will suggest some bilateral movements. 

Bilateral movements involve both sides of the body working simultaneously.  They are usually seen early on in life.  When our babies learn to clap their hands together they are showing the development of these movements.   After learning to use both hands simultaneously, the feet learn to work together, allowing us to jump. The whole body becomes involved when we do jumping jacks.  These movements are natural movements and good to start with because they come easily and naturally to most children.   The ability to use both sides of the body in gross motor tasks plays a great part in developing the young child’s brain.

1. Jumping to the four winds: The child, on your call, jumps with both feet forwards, sideways and backwards (while facing forwards).  Encourage fluid body movements. You can introduce the concept of North, South, East, West if you like, or use Left and Right if you want to reinforce directionality.
2. Half a caterpillar: This movement is done to four counts.  (a) The child places her hands on the floor; (b) she pushes (or walks) her feet out until she is resting her weight on her straight arms with her legs straight out behind her (with their weight resting on the toes); (c) she brings her feet back to her hands on the floor; (d) she transfers weight to her feet, raises her torso and stands up with hands on hips. Repeat.
3. Stepping stones: For this, you need some ‘stepping stones’ which you can make by taping sheets of paper (or plastic, or carpet squares) on the carpet, tiled floor or area outside.  (a)  The child jumps from one square to the next with both feet in the same square.  Encourage body control and balance and work towards the child being able to land on both feet together.  You should hear a single sound when the child lands, rather than two sounds following.   (b) The child jumps with right foot in right square and left foot in left square. (c) The child jumps with right foot in right square and left foot in left square backwards. (d) The child moves from square to square with a double jump in each square. Try jumping with your child, if necessary holding his hand.  Call out: “Big jump, little mump, big jump, little jump” etc.  You might want to jump to the next square on a ‘big jump’ and then jump in the square for the ‘little jump’. (e) The child does a double jump backwards and continues to the end of the squares.  Make sure that both feet land on each square at the same time.
4. Big balloons: (a) Hold your child’s hands (or have children hold hands in a circle) and huddle very closely together.  Start blowing up the balloon and blow and blow and blow until your imaginary balloon is fully inflated and you and the child(ren) are further apart, with arms outstretched and raised.  Have the child pop the balloon by calling out “POP”, causing the ‘balloon’ to shrink back to its original, deflated size. (b) The child becomes a single balloon and you blow him up with a puff, puff, puff until he is light and airy.  Then POP him, and he deflates, becoming a crumpled heap on the floor.
5. Jumping game: Chant (or sing) the following words, having the child follow along with the movements:

‘Big jump, little jump, turn around.

‘Big jump, little jump, touch the ground.

‘Big jump, little jump, give your legs a slap.

‘Big jump, little jump, give the ground a clap.

‘Big jump, little jump, put your hands in your lap.

Other movements can be added to the above list. Think of Jumping Jacks, learning to Hula Hoop, skipping rope and so on. These are all excellent developmental movements.

Image supplied by Freepik.