Body movements are planned to help children move smoothly and safely through space and to effect the high levels of control necessary for fine coordination skills.
The following whole-body activities will be enjoyed by children at times throughout the day. They may be used with only fingers and hands or by encompassing the whole body.
.Balancing like a cat walking along a fence
.Bending like a tree branch in a brisk wind
.Hopping like birds looking for worms
.Fluttering gracefully like butterflies
.Chasing your tail like a puppy
.Crawling like a mouse into a hole; crawling to grab cheese
.Creeping like a caterpillar and making a bumpy motion
.Climbing up a tree; up a ladder; over a wall
.Dancing on tiptoes like a wound-up doll or clown
.Dancing like elves on the lawn
.Flopping in the wind like a scarecrow
.Falling leaves in autumn
.Hopping like a toad or rabbit
.Jumping like a grasshopper or cricket
.Curling up like a sleepy kitten
.Scampering like mice
.Putting presents under a tree like Santa
.Rocking on a rocking horse or back and forth
.Running like a beetle
.Skating on the sidewalk or on ice
.Snowing softly; making a snowman or snowwoman
.Hiding nuts like a squirrel
.Striding like a giant taking long heavy steps
.Throwing a ball and catching it
.Bouncing a ball
.Turning like a slow wheel
.Twirling like a top
.Waddling like ducks going to a lake for a swim
.Walking in the mud; up a hill; fast; slow
.Wiggling like a worm