What to do with this activity?
Encourage your toddler to move around and pretend they are an animal. For instance, show them how to:
- jump like a rabbit, a frog or a kangaroo,
- stretch out one arm like an elephant’s trunk and clomp around the room,
- flap their arms like a bird and fly around,
- waddle like a penguin,
- swim like a fish with their arms joined in front of them.
Think of other animals they can copy. Look at real animals on youtube and get even more ideas. It's all great for their imagination and co-ordination.
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Why am I doing this?
Learning to move, reach and grasp helps children develop the muscles and skills to scribble and learn to write when they get older. Body awareness and learning to do big movements (like crawling and walking) and small movements like the pincer movement (where you lift up things with your index finger and thumb) are important parts of your child's development. It is part of awakening and developing your brain. For your young child, reaching for objects helps build their coordination and will help them hold crayons later on.
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How can I do more?
Have fun with your child dancing to music. This helps their coordination. If your child is moving their arms or body at all they are dancing!
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