Categories: |

Explore the Jump

Skills:

Physical: balance, upper and lower limb coordination, agility, power

Cognitive: selective attention, sustained attention

Social: awareness of personal space

Number of participants:

1 or more

Equipment:

  • optional: skipping rope, string, small hurdles, masking tape

Description:

  1. children jump in different ways:
    •  jump high
    • jump far
    • jump and reach up
    • jump and reach out
    • jump up and forward
    • jump up and land in the same place
    • jump and turn
    • jump forward with a partner
    • jump over a rope
    • jump like a bouncing ball
    • jump with your feet straddled then together
    • jump forward then backward
    • jump and make shapes while in the air
    • jump and mark your landing with your beanbag
    • jump to the drum beat
    • jump 3 times forward
    • then 3 times backwards
    • jump and land with your feet wide apart and then close together
    • jump like a frog
    • jump like a rabbit
    • jump in a zigzag pattern or circle
    • jump quickly
    • jump slowly
    • jump quickly then slowly
    • alternate jump/hop
    • jumping jacks
    • jump and clap your hands above your head

Wheelchair friendly?

This activity might not be suitable for people who use wheelchairs. “Wheelchair Friendly Activities” has a list of activities that are easy to adapt for wheelchair users. This list isn’t exhaustive, so we invite you to come up with your own creative ideas to make any activity work for you. If you have an idea on how to make this or any other activity more accessible for wheelchair users, We’d love to hear your ideas on how to make this or any other activity accessible for wheelchair users. Thank you for helping make play more inclusive!

Modifications to make the activity easier:

Change the environment: have the child focus on either their upper body or lower body to decrease physical demand

Modifications to make the activity harder:

Change the environment:

  • have the leader give commands on what type of jump the children should perform to increase cognitive demand
  • designate a spot for the child to jump in to increase physical and cognitive demand

Goal examples:

  • the child will be able to perform 5 different types of jumps in two weeks
  • I can jump while holding my coaches/ families hands for support