ABCs for Creative Movement in Early Childhood

Large Motor Skills and Activities

A Alligator Crawl Touch chest and palms of hands to floor. Using alternating legs
and arms, push-pull self forward
Angels in the Snow On acks, arms at sides, legs together.
ilateral movement ! arms and legs flap in unison
unilateral movement ! right side of od", then left alternates
cross-lateral ! right arm # left leg together
$ Bear Walk $end forward and touch ground with oth hands on floor. Travel
forward " moving the right arm and right leg simultaneousl", then
left arm and leg. %alk slow and delierate.
Bunny Hop &' S(uat position ) *ands +ump forward and then feet follow.
,' Tr" the traditional $unn" *op to music - cra." ut fun for a part".
Balls of Every ind $ounce, throw, catch, hit, roll, throw into something.
Bowling !ame Use empt" detergent ottles as /pins.0
Balan"e A"tivities &' $alance eam - sidewa"s, forward, ackwards, with ean
ag on head, etc.
,' $alance on one foot, stork stand, alance ean ag.
Ba"k#to#Ba"k &' 1roup game.
,' 2artners lock arms with ack together, sit down and get up
Bike $iding
Body Shapes % Body &etters Use "our od" to make a given shape or letter -
ma" need a partner3
4 Cra' Walk 5rom s(uat position, reach ackward and put hands flat on floor
without sitting down. %alk in direction of feet, keeping head and od"
in straight line.
6 (u"k Waddle knees-ent position, hands on hips, walk forward.
(onkey i"k On acks, arms at sides, legs together.
(odge Ball
(i"e Movement !ame Move a od" part the same numer that is thrown on a dice
7 E)er"ise to Musi" Move to the music3 $e creative with the music
Egg Sit S(uat on floor, grasp ankles, rock ack and forth.
5 *rog +ump 5rom a s(uat position with hands on floor etween legs, travel forward
" leaping from all fours.
*lip#*lops Lie on stomach looking right. On the word /flip,0 the child looks left
and assumes left position. On the word /flop,0 the child switches ack
to the right position.
*orward $olls do a somersault
*ree,e -Musi"al. 4hildren skip in circle while music pla"s, ut must free.e when
it stops.
1 !allop
!roup A"tive !ames games with rules such as 8ing a 8osie
* Hop On right foot, on left foot.
9 /n"hworm Support od" on hands and feet with ack straight. :eeping hands in
place and knees stiff, walk on toes with short steps until feet are near
hands. Then, keeping feet in place, walk forward with hands taking
short steps.
; +umping +a"ks
+ump $ope get creative with a +ump rope ) snakes alive etc.
+og
+ump#the#Creek Using a long piece of elastic stretched across the space where
children can run and +ump, recite the following verse< /The river
is deep, the river is wide, ever"one ;UM2 to the other side.0
: i"k the Ball
angaroo +umps
L &o'ster Walk Same position as cra walk, onl" walk forward, not sidewa"s.
&og $oll Lie on floor with arms e=tended and touching over the head and toes
pointed. Lift arms, head and legs off floor and roll onto side, stomach, other side.
M Monkey $un 8un forward on all fours, eing sure to look up >strengthens neck
muscles'
?
O 0"topus Walk!walk on all fours and pretend "ou have four more3
2 1retend /"e Skating 2ut wa=ed paper over stocking feet, secure with ruer
ands@ children /ice skate0 on carpets.
1ara"hute 1lay
A
8 $ela)ation $ag (oll 4hildren lie on ground, talk them through ecoming
completel" rela=es, like a rag doll, so when "ou come around and lift a
od" part slightl" and let go, it drops to floor.
$ow2 $ow2 $ow 3our Boat A partner rocking activit".
$o"king Chair On stomach, lift arms, head and legs off floor and rock.
S Seal Walk Assume a position with od" supported " hands@ ack straight and
feet dragging ehind. %alk with hands.
Skip
Sliding
Sledding
S"ooter
T 4ip#toes
4wister !ame
U
B 5#Sit $alance on seat with arms and legs e=tended to /B0 shape.
% Windmills Standing position with arms straight out from sides and feet apart.
8each right hand across od" to touch the left toe, return to starting
position, and repeat with left hand to right toe.
C, D, E !