Large Muscle Coordination

The ECLE manual contains numerous activities to use to enhance a child's large muscle coordination.  A few examples are listed below.

Wheelbarrow Walk 

Children follow brightly colored tape in the shape of zigzags, lines and circles.  Someone must pick up the child's feet while he/she walks on his/her hands.  This develops upper body strength--especially the pectoral and dorsal muscles.

Materials Needed - Red, yellow, and blue masking tape.

Hop Like a Rabbit

This activity requires the children to jump on both feet which leads to hopping on one foot and skipping.  This activity also requires endurance.  Place paper feet cut from construction paper on the floor.  Have the children hop like rabbits and follow the farmer's feet to his carrot patch.  The children should continue to hop around the room following the path.  At the end of the path the children could nibble on carrot sticks.

Materials Needed - Construction paper cut in the shape of the bottom of a shoe.  Also, carrot sticks for those who make it to the end of the path.

Scissor Step on Low Balance Beam 

Have the child stand sideways on the low balance beam.  The child picks up one foot and moves it along the balance beam.  Then, the child moves the other foot to meet the foot that moved until the child is in an upright standing position.  Have the child continue to move one foot to the side and move the second foot to meet the first foot.

Materials Needed - 2" x 6" x 8' board.

Up, Up, Up

This activity develops eye-hand coordination skills.  Provide each child with a balloon.  Have the child hit the balloon in the air.  The child should keep the balloon from falling to the floor.  Provide enough room for children to move without colliding.

Materials Needed - A balloon for each child.  Note:  Supervise carefully any activity that involves the use of balloons by children.  The rubber can lodge in a child's throat.

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