Learning to use the body
section 9
4 years
55 meeting
Let’s review:
Once the meeting starts, welcome everyone and ask the participants:¿ • Who can help us remember what we talked about in our last meeting? • Who was able to do the activity at home that we asked you to do at the end of the meeting? How did it go? • Does anyone have questions or concerns after doing the activity?
What are we going to learn? We are going to learn about the importance of developing a child’s gross motor skills (bigger movements).
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT! We are going to look at some pictures, so we can talk about what we all know about this topic.
What are some common household objects that you can use for games and activities with 4 yearolds?
What types of manual activities do your children like to do? Why is it important to support them in their efforts? What types of games do 4 year-old children play?
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Activity:
“Races in pairs” We will learn activities that help 4 year-olds to develop and practice their motor skills.
What we’ll need: • A field or open porch
WHAT WE’LL DO: • Various plastic or rubber balls Invite everyone to a field or porch where they can play some friendly competitive games. • Ask everyone to get into pairs (these can be pairs of parents with their children) and show them where to start and end each race. • Tell the group that the races will all be done in pairs and each pair should follow your instructions. Then tell them to: • Jump on one foot • Jump like a rabbit • Run with your partner, passing a ball back and forth as you run • Slither like a snake • Gallop like a horse • Explain the importance of developing these games for your 4 year-olds. • If there is time, invite the group make up other activities (see below). • At the end sit in a circle and describe how it felt to do the activities and explain why you think it is important for children to develop these types of activities.
SUGGESTED ACTIVITES • • • •
Kick the ball different directions that you indicate Walk on your heels Balance on one foot, holding a ball in one hand Walk up and down stairs alternating your feet
Summing Up:
What did we learn today? Now, we’ll review what we discussed today. • How do you feel after this meeting? Why? • What are the two most important things you’ve learned today? • What will you do differently based on what you learned during the meeting? • What did you like the most? Are there things you didn’t like? • Do you have any remaining concerns or questions about what we talked about?
Facilitator’s Manual
15 To finish, what would you recommend to improve today’s meeting when we do it again with another group. (Explain that answering this question will help the meeting be even better in the future for parents with small children.)
To do at home:
Tell parents to develop at least one activity with their children and other neighbor children of the same age.
Basic information for the facilitator: Learning more about using the body: 1- Oral and physical expression:
• At this age, children who have been stimulated have a better capacity for expressing themselves through talking (verbally) and with their bodies (physically). • Parents who are just starting to stimulate their children should start with exercises for two and three-year-olds and then work up to the activities for 4 year-olds. • Parents should start with the easiest exercise first, so their child will feel good about succeeding. Then gradually add harder exercises.
2- Play:
• Play at this age is crucial and is the time children most enjoy being themselves. Children grow emotionally through play. They become more independent but at the same time learn how to socialize with others. • Stimulation through play continues to be an important way to help children develop at this age. • Parents should try to spend an hour a day playing with their children to help them in their development.
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Facilitator’s Manual