Preschool Locomotion Games

Infusing movement with content can provide fun and interesting lessons for preschool children.

Infusing locomotion into the preschool classroom improves gross motor skills. Preschool age children have so many different things to learn before they head to kindergarten. Learning all the new ideas such as numbers, letters and colors can be made more interesting to them if you provide lessons that include motion. Turning content into movement games helps keep children focused on the task at hand.

Number Hop

Let children hold a stuffed bunny toy while hoping from number to number.

Use masking tape to label the floor with the numbers one through 10. Create a circle with the numbers, but do not put them in order. Have a students stand on number one and hop through the center of the circle to the number two. Each student will take a turn counting from one to 10. To make this even more fun for the children, purchase a pair of bunny ears to wear or a stuffed bunny toy to hold while they hop from number to number. They will have so much fun with the bunny theme, they will not realize they are learning.

Obstacle Course

Think of a variety of mental and physical tasks like counting and jumping jacks.

An obstacle course for preschool age children will introduce directions and sequences while allowing children to be active. An obstacle course can be set up in the classroom, a gym or outside if the weather is nice. Set up different stations that enforce the skills you wish to teach. At one station, the children could run in place for 10 seconds while the next station has them counting to 10. Other ideas include putting a wood puzzle together, spelling their name, doing jumping jacks and sorting colored blocks. Use your imagination to come up with up to 10 different stations per course. Demonstrate to the students the path the course follows and the directions for each of the stations.

Leap Frog

Children reach the front of the line by answering question correctly.

Play leap frog with the students, but do not let them leap until they answer a question correctly. Split children into groups of three. Line them up in a straight line and allow space in between each person. The student in the back of the line will start. Ask the children in the back of the line a question such as what color is the Sun, grass or sky. When they give you the correct answer, they may leap. After they answer correctly twice, they will be in the front of the line and their turn will be over. Have questions prepared before this activity because each student will get at least two questions.

Simon Says

Simon Says is a classic game many preschool age children love to play. Add this game to your classroom play to increase locomotion and imagination. You can be Simon or you can allow students to be Simon. Have students complete tasks such as hop on one foot, turn around twice and pat their head and rub their belly. For this age group, try not to trick them, as the main motivation for this game for preschool is to get them moving.

References

• Preschool Education: Games and Outdoors: Parachute
• Kids Running: Running Games
• Preschool Learning and Crafts: Preschool Games for Summertime Fun