Rainy day fun!

It was raining really hard all day.  There was no chance of us getting to go out side and run around, so we needed to improvise.  We are lucky to have a deck area downstairs that is sheltered from the rain, but where we can still get some fresh air.  Because it is always important for preschoolers to be able to use their bodies to move and explore as much as possible, we needed to set up an experience that promoted movement.  Between two frames, there was a plank, which the children we able to jump off onto some mats.  This was such great fun, but everyone soon got tired of doing the same thing over and over.  To make it a bit more challenging, we strung a balloon up.  This provided a target for the children to aim towards.  Some children were able to touch it straight away, while others needed a few tries to perfect their technique.  Moving is such an integral part of being a human being.  Our bodies need movement in order to function and stay healthy.  Movement is also crucial for brain development as well as physical development.  It may sound strange, but you need to be able to move, in order to learn how to stay still.  Jumping off the plank, helped the children to develop their muscles, co ordination, depth perception and their proprioceptive and vestibular systems, which are needed for balance and the control of their body (for example, holding a pen or holding your body still while you listen).  We had such fun, but we were also learning and developing our bodies at the same time.