ABCs of Gross Motor Day 5: U-Z

Welcome to Day 5 of the ABCs of Gross Motor. This has been a great week and today is the last day of the ABC Series. At the end of the post I have a few lists of Pinterest Boards and printables I have found.

U is for Under

A lot of times in these activities we jump over something, but under is important too. It works a different set of muscles when you go under something. It makes you think about how high things are to your head. The simple game of how low can you go is fun for kids. Just to see how low they can get no matter how they do it. Also try to get them to crawl under and around tables and chairs.

Here are some great U Blog Posts:
Sense of Wonder – Using both sides of the Body

V is for Victory

Celebrate the victories both small and big. They are not always easy, but when they try something and it goes well we do a victory dance and jump for it. It could be as simple as going farther with wheel barrow than they could do before. Doing better at a skill is always great. You could even do this without your kids knowing you are doing a celebration. When I first started this I would just have a jumping time and high fives at the end of a skill. Now it is routine and they love it. Celebrating the small stuff is important when working new skills. Figure out your victories and celebrate them any way you can.

Here are some great V Blog Posts:
Toddler Approved – Escape the Volcano Shape Game

W is for Walking

Walking is something you can do every day and never get bored with. My girls like to do scavenger hunts while we walk or look to see how things can change. Walking also gets you out with them and interacting with the environment. It provides a way to teach them and get exercise at the same time. Start slow and work up to more and you will be walking lots of places.

Here are some great W Blog Posts:
Mama Smiles – Benefits of Walking to School
Wildlife Fun 4 Life – Wildlife Movement Dice
We Can Do all Things – Walking on Pillows
We Can Do all Things -Walking the Plank
Growing a Jeweled Rose – Winter Activities to Keep Kids Active

X is for eXcited

Let them be excited about what they are doing. When we get into a routine they will bring something to me they want to do. They have big smiles the whole time they are doing the activity. When they are excited it is because they think it is fun to do. It provides a great outlet for their energy. So what can you get your kids excited about?

Y is for Yoga

Yoga is a simple and easy tool to use with kids. I have been using The ABCs of Yoga for Kids. My girls love doing the poses and matching up with the letters. It is fun to do the exercises with them. There are also many different easy yoga videos for kids.

Here are some great Y Blog Posts:
Creek Side Learning – 4 Ways That Kids Benefit From Yoga
Carrots are Orange – Yoga Resources & Why Yoga is part of our Home
A Cosmic Kids Yoga adventure! Episode 1 – Squish The Fish

Z is for Zig Zag

Many years ago in college a professor had the phrase “Zig Zag.” Sometimes when you want to zig you have to zag instead. It was her way of saying expect the unexpected and be prepared to change. If you have a Zig Zag day go with it. Don’t be so stuck on what you want to do that you ruin having fun! When the time comes you have to zag remember what you need to do. Zig may happen another day.

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I hope that you have enjoyed this ABC series as much as I have. Don’t forget to visit the first 4 days:
ABCs of Gross Motor Day 1: A-E
ABCs of Gross Motor Day 2: F-J
ABCs of Gross Motor Day 3: K-O
ABCs of Gross Motor Day 3: P-T

Here are some great Pinterest Boards for Gross motor:
My OT & PT Board
Learn as We Go: Motor Development
Pedi Staff has various boards
Teach Preschool – Large Motor Skills Board
Teach Preschool – Outdoor Play
Gross Motor Activities
Gross Motor
In Lieu of Preschool – Outdoor & Gross Motor Activities for Kids

Some fun Printables for Gross motor:
Homeschool Share ABC Fitness cards – in the Body Lap Book
Childhood 101 – Making Body Shapes

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

• A Waldorf Mama from Triple T Mum
• After School Activities from The Educators Spin On It
• Hands-on History from Adventures in Mommydom
• Home Daycare or Family Child Card from My Buddies and I
• Homeschooling from Enchanted Homeschooling Mom
• How to Home School from In Lieu of Preschool
• Math Activities from Blog Me Mom
• Montessori from Living Montessori Now
• Science Activities & Play from Science Sparks
• Teaching Math from Montessori Tidbits
• Thrifty Teaching Tools from Kindergarten & Preschool for Parents & Teachers

Cassie – 3Dinosaurs.com

Disclaimer: This is not intended to be the end all of gross motor but just ideas that can be used and should not replace something else you are doing. This is not medical advice either.