Children's Rope Activities

Children of all ages and abilities can participate in rope activities.

Using ropes is a great way to get children moving while providing quality fitness exercises. Rope activities help children identify patterns, work in small and large groups and develop motor skills. It doesn't matter if ropes are old, frayed, big or small. Whether its simple activities or challenging initiatives, children of all ages and abilities can use ropes to develop movement skills and participate in thought-provoking games.

Ropes to Use for Children's Activities

Use short and long ropes for children's rope activities.

For children's activities, individual, or short ropes, should be between 6 and 9 feet long. The ends of the rope should reach the child's shoulders. Longer ropes, for group jumping or team games, should be longer and heavier. Long ropes can range in length between 10 and 20 feet. When using longer ropes, elastic ropes are recommended to ensure safety should a child trip or get caught in the rope. You can use clothesline, sash cords or plastic and synthetic ropes.

Teaching Movement with Rope Activities

Rope activities help children develop motor skills.

The article "How to Describe Movement" highlights four concepts related to movement: body, effort, space and relationship. Rope activities can be used for all four types of physical activity. Body movements such as hopping or jumping can be performed by teaching traditional jump rope activities. Children can develop spatial concepts by moving forward, sideways, over or under ropes. Team-based rope games help develop relationships as children interact with other people or objects.To develop effort movement skills, children can expend varying amounts of force during rope games.

Rope Activities for One Child

Use a rope to teach a child shapes.

A child can participate in several individual rope activities. Place a rope on the floor and instruct the child to jump sideways, backward or forward over the rope. Increase difficulty by asking the child to jump on one foot or repeat various patterns. The rope can also be used to create various shapes, numbers or letters. Children can reproduce the patterns with their bodies.

Group Rope Activities

Group rope activities help teach relationship movement skills.

Ropes are an effective tool for team or group initiatives. A 25- to 50-foot section of clothes line can be used as a circle rope. Use the rope to teach relationship motor skills by instructing children to complete a series of movements such as raising, lowering or passing the rope. Children can also complete partner work by repeating patterns or completing assigned instructions with a specific partner.

Creative and Special Rope Activities

Use ropes for dramatic play or as structured and free-form activities. The article entitled, "Rope Activities for Fun, Fitness, and Fonics," describes examples such as shaping a rope into a mountain and walking around the mountain. Novel approaches such as rope twirls, marching ropes or creative rope designs provide additional challenges.

References

• "Rope Activities for Fun, Fitness, and Fonics," American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, 1978
• "How to Describe Movement," Iowa State University, University Extension, 1990

Resources

• Youthwork Practice: Rope Games