Welcome Song
Warm Up Song
Warmup to Music: Animal Freeze Game
What to do: Guide students through the following motions. For those that need support, parents can perform the actions as well and/or provide assistance with the positions/movements. Be creative and HAVE FUN!
1) STOMP like an elephant
2) WADDLE like a penguin
3) HOP like a kangaroo
4) SWIM like polar bears
5) Swing like monkeys
Weave Through Cones with Scooter
What to do: For students who are not crawling or walking, parents will place them in a seated position on top of the scooter. Parents will push the scooter in and out of the cones. For students who are walking or crawling, they will place their hands on top of the scooter and try to push it in and out of the cones.
The Script: Sitting on the scooter helps your child build core and belly muscles. They will instinctively try to hold themselves in an upright position to not fall over when the scooter moves. This will be working on their balancing. For those who are able to push the scooter, they will be working on their upper body strength and coordination.
Walking on the Red Balance Beam
Setup: Place the red balance beam with enough space around it for adults to walk.
What to do: Wee Pea begins at one side of the balance beam. For those who are walking, adults will hold under the students armpit to support their weight. Students who are only crawling can use the wide space on the balance beam to crawl across. For students who are not walking/crawling yet, parents and teachers can work together to assist them across by supporting under their arms and moving their feet across the beam at the same time.
The Script: This skill promotes dynamic balance. Dynamic balance refers to the ability to stay balanced while moving. Walking on uneven surfaces helps toddlers learn to gauge slopes, steps and obstacles. This activity also helps build gross motor skills and engages the vestibular system. The vestibular system contributes to balance, posture control, spatial orientation, visual tracking and more.
Donkey Kicks on Trapezoid or Block
Setup: Trapezoid block with colors or shapes of the month to guide where feet go.
What to do: Student begins with feet on the floor, hands on block. Student places hands flat on block with arms shoulder distance apart. Student shifts weight from feet to hands and balances body weight on hands. Students uses both feet to kick off floor and keeping knees bent, jumps and lifts feet into the air. Student finishes with both feet returning to springboard.
Spotting: T/P is stationed next to student. Teacher ensures student is putting weight on hands and arms. T/P holds student at the waist and lifts student’s hips into the air. T/P helps student build jumping rhythm with lower body while still keeping weight on hands. T/P ensures that student finishes skill by guiding student back to starting position on feet.
Crawling Through the Tunnel
Setup: Red, blue and yellow tunnel
What to do: Students make their way from one side of tunnel to the next. You can place different sensory toys inside the tunnel to help those who are not crawling independently.
The Script: Crawling through tunnels are great for developing gross motor skills, teaching them sensory perception, and providing a safe environment to exercise and explore.
Balancing with the Bilibo
Setup: Bilbo on floor
What to do: Parent places baby in a sitting position in the bilibo with back to the circles. Parent can challenge the Wee Pee balancing with any type of movements.
Spotting: Parent/teacher assists students in staying upright if necessary and not falling out of the bilibo
The Script: Rocking, spinning and balancing the shell helps develop motor skills and the child’s sense of balance.
Standing with Block Mats
Setup: Stack two or three block mats hip-chest height for the Wee Peas.
What to do: Place sensory toys on top of block mat. Students are working on standing, balancing and body strength.
The Script: Our Wee Peas will try to hold themselves upright working on their upper body strength and balance. The toys will engage their senses and help them focus on a separate activity at the same time.
Floor Activities
- Independent Time: Teacher will place some toys in the middle of the circle. Parents will put students with the toys and teacher in the middle and take a back seat (staying inside the gym). Teacher will work on interacting with the students without the parents “present.” This helps students work on separation anxiety and social awareness as they interact with other Wee Peas.
Goodbye Song