How to Do Warm-up Exercises in Preschool Gymnastic Lessons
In preschool gymnastics, warm-ups focus on gentle stretches and simple exercise moves, designed to develop muscles and introduce the child to good physical conditioning habits. Striking a balance between fun and learning is easy when you use games and positive reinforcement during warm-up time.
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Instructions
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Start off on the right foot by allowing only as many children to attend as you can successfully control at one time. For 2- and 3-year olds, a good ratio is 1 instructor for every 6 children. A class of 4-year olds may only need 1 teacher for every 10 children.
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Use games to teach warm-up skills. Have the children hop on one foot, then the other and jump like bunnies in a line to build ankle and leg muscles and increase coordination.
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Stretch little legs, arms, wrists and backs by employing animal names and movements. Walking like a crab is fun for preschool children as it teaches them to use new muscle groups. Stretching their legs in a "V" sit encourages them to increase their flexibility as they try to open their legs as wide as an alligator's jaws.
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Count exercise repetitions such as bunny hops or jumping jacks to reinforce their counting skills while developing rhythm and muscle tone. Alternately, have them recite the alphabet for variety.
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Identify the parts of the body used in gymnastics during warm-up exercises and use the gymnastic movement terms associated with them. For instance, a child should learn to "arch" her back, "extend" her arms and "balance" on one foot. Using the terms she will need to progress in gymnastics provides a good foundation at this age.
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Move quickly from one exercise to the next. Preschool children have short attention spans and need frequent changes to hold their interest.
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Praise good behavior when the children follow directions. Gymnastics is a dangerous sport and students must learn early to mind and conduct themselves in a safe manner.
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Tips & Warnings
Use your imagination and make warm-ups fun for preschool children.
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Comments
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tasha14
Dec 29, 2009
These are good! 2 more good one are... Butterfly - Sit on the floor & put the bottom of your feet together then move your knees up and down. & Elephant- make an elephant trunk by putting your right arm out, then using your left arm to pull the right elbow towards your left shoulder, then switch sides. -
Belisha
Mar 29, 2008
Works well for grown women too!
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Belisha
Mar 29, 2008
Works well for grown women too!
