Hop, hop, hop and stop Help your child to draw a hopscotch course with chalk on cement. You can make the course as long as you like, but it usually has about 8 or 10 squares. Draw a set of single and double squares - like a ladder, but with extra bits. Write a number on each square of the course. Let’s write 1 on the first square and 2 on the next square. What number comes

Jump like a kangaroo, hop like a frog Next time your child is up and moving around, challenge them to a game of imagination. Can you jump like a kangaroo? How does a frog jump? How many different animals can you and your child pretend to be?

If your baby has started to crawl, this game will challenge them and introduce them to lots of textures. Lay out a course using things from around your home. You can use things like different textured bathmats, some cushions to crawl over, a large box to crawl through, a footstool to crawl around or an old shower curtain or fluffy blanket to crawl on. Encourage your baby to

Most children love to challenge themselves physically and explore the different ways they can move around, through and over different objects. You might find your child likes to try and balance on or along lines or other surfaces. Next time you are outside with your child or walking somewhere, encourage them to try a bit of balancing. Can they balance along a line on the

Can you run and touch that tree?Next time you are all outside you can play a game with lots of actions. Ask your child to follow your instructions, but keep it simple at first.Can you run to that tree? Can you walk to the fence? Okay, now crawl back to me.Try to think of lots of different ways to get your child moving. Younger children can walk, crawl and run. As they get

There are many different ways you can move about. You can crawl, run, jump, roll or climb. You can climb up, over, under and through things. Next time you are outside, at the park or moving about talk to your child about the different things they can climb. We are going to the park with the big trees and logs. When we get there you can climb up the trees or over the logs. The

Move, move, freeze!Have you ever shown your child a statue? They don’t move. Can your child stand as still as a statue?If your child isn’t already up and moving, encourage them to get started. You could sing as they move or play some music. Work out a way to tell them when to stop. You could use a word like freeze or stop. Or you could use a sound like clapping your hands or

Let's party! Friday night could be party time at your house. First set the scene. Where will the dance party be? Do you need to move some furniture? Have you got music? Do you have some coloured lights? Let’s move the chairs out of the way. They’re heavy so we’ll need to push hard. Put the music on and dance with your children. Think of lots of ways to move and let the music

It’s raining it’s pouring, everything’s wet and boring…The weather has changed and winter has arrived. Often when this happens and the rain rolls in it is hard to find things to do outside to keep your child busy and active. Rain puddles are just made for jumping. You can try jumping over puddles with your child.

Most children find it fun to play - seeking out adventures and actively exploring the world with their bodies. Playing at a park or a playground will give your child an opportunity to use all their big muscles and experiment with how to move their bodies in different directions. They can run as fast as the wind or roll down the hills like a spinning top. There are other ways