You don’t need to be a drill sergeant to enjoy an obstacle course
Talking about obstacle courses tends to conjure up an image of hard physical activity, perhaps lots of young soldiers being shouted at, maybe even your own childhood PE lessons. But there is a reason they are such a classic way to get people moving – the challenges of getting your body over, under and through obstacles is a brilliant workout and helps young children to build not only muscle strength, but also balance, body awareness and confidence.
How can you embrace obstacle courses with your toddler?
All caught up – skills needed to catch a ball
Catching a ball is a great skill for your toddler to learn as it’s used in many different games and sports. There are numerous times when catching comes into daily life too; think about when someone throws a chocolate to you, or maybe some keys. It is one of those things that will come into play at spontaneous times. But did you know that catching involves a wide range of skills?
Before they can catch a ball, your toddler needs to know what's coming!
I’m putting my foot down – it feels more natural
Earlier in your toddler's journey, we delved into releasing their inner flamingo by being able to stand on one leg. Yet while flamingos rest when they stand in this way,[1] as humans we often struggle to retain balance while one leg is lifted, even for a short while. This is largely to do with the number of different things our bodies control while achieving balance on only one leg and foot. So for your learning toddler, this outwardly simple action is all the more remarkable.
Strong muscles and joints in their body help to keep them balanced and upright.
Can children multitask? – Yes, they can!
Have you ever thought about your child multitasking? Probably not, and it isn’t something we typically bring up when talking about young children. Yet, when they play, multitasking can happen coincidentally. One example of where this is true is when they walk backwards while pulling a toy!
Walking backwards demands more physical effort than walking forwards which makes the action more challenging:
Space – running, walking and safety
Room to run around might not always be available but having occasional access to space is necessary for your toddler’s physical development. Although space can be wonderful, it can also raise worries about your toddler's safety. Here are a few things to think about to help keep them safe.
Life has just become that much more thrilling for them now they are beginning to run. Not only that, they are also learning how to vary their speed from a walk to a run.
Oh no! There goes the cup again!
Being aware of our body and its size is important in many aspects of life; it helps us judge things like how close to get to people when chatting and how far to reach when picking things up. Now that your toddler is becoming aware of their body size, they may realise they are too small to reach the kitchen surface, or their arms are longer than they realise when they go to pick up their drink, or they are too big for their doll’s buggy.
To gain awareness of body position your toddler relies on sensory information received from muscles, joints and limbs.
Stepping out – the challenges and benefits of outside stairs and surfaces
Spending time outside is remarkably beneficial for you and your toddler. Some of the skills they are working towards right now are far more easily achieved in the great outdoors; it can offer a freedom that being inside just can't quite match.
Now that your toddler is walking downstairs with more confidence, getting outdoors to practise this skill can be much more exciting.
The wheels are spinning in my head all the time – Justin Berfield*
We can be so hard on ourselves. Our minds feel active 24/7 and we just get on with things... keeping it under control. While our minds spin, we juggle commitments, jobs, being a parent, being a relative, being a friend, being a colleague and making decisions. It can leave you feeling a bit like a 'jack of all trades, master of none'. But when your wheels are spinning, it's important to push the break, and know that things will feel more manageable for it.
We recently heard the term ‘brainado’,[1] which instantly resonated with us. Brainado is made from the words, ‘brain’ and ‘tornado’... brilliant. This word most probably sums up what every parent experiences at some point in their week, or day, or hour.
Walking the line – how a wobble helps develops balance
By following a line, your toddler is further fine tuning their walking skills. They are now exploring a more intricate style of walking that helps them improve their coordination and maintain balance.
Following a line, as with lots of other skills, has loads more going on than first meets the eye!
Today I am going to be...
Most toddlers love to dress up! Dressing up is an amazing type of play, bringing with it a whole world of benefits to your toddler's development. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just a few home props can ignite their imagination while also building their gross motor skills.
Imagination strikes us all in different ways. Children are usually super at slipping into another realm and embarking on a journey that they are in control of.
