PitterPatterFeet

This is fitnesss activitiy is to help children learn rhythm and timing and to learn to take turns. In learning to take turns toddlers learn patience. Which takes quiet a bit of practice for their age because everything at this age is about me me me. Learning to wait for their turn is an important skill that toddlers must develope. It is a social skill and this particular activity helps them to work with others and bulids comraderie as they cheer one another on. Sometimes they even say one another’s name in an effort to help.

This is a very popular activity in my dance classes held on site at preschools through out New Jersey. The school above Lil Tykes Learning Center in East Orange, New Jersey and also a part of the Tri City Peoples Corporation, have dance as a part of their learning curriculum. It is given at no additional charge and is a $55 per month per child value that is freely given to their parents. The teachers and parents appreciate having the convenience of having it at the school and love the fact that it’s so much more than dance, and learning as well.

This is a great activity for circle time or for children to use at home. Children doing it at home can use their stuffed animals. You can also substitue say your age also to add some variety or change the beat. It’s all up to you and the chlildren so have fun!

It is important to have a variety of fitness activities for kids. Having variety keeps children’s interest and enagages them. When people think of fitness they think of rigorous movement or some form of movement. In addition to movement we need transitional activities also that help quiet the mind and body. This particular activity is one that quiets the body and  can be used in three ways. It can be used for developing listening skills and helping children to pay attention. It can also be used for learning self control and patience. The activity is called the MAGIC NUMBER .

This is an activity that involves you counting and the children listening. Have the children lie on the floor. Explain that they are taking a rest and that it will be time to get up after you say the magic number. Tell them the magic number. Ask them what is the magic number and have them tell it to you. Have them lie down and then begin to count.  In between your counting ask the children is it time to get up. They will love to scream back at you NO! Once you say the magic number it is time to stand up.

This activity is used to transition from rigorous activity such as playing in the gym, outside,  dancing or any where they have been exerting themselves and need to take a rest. Although children have a lot of energy, their energy is spurts and they need rest periods in between.  In can be used any time you want the children to settle down and be still. Don’t worry about whether or not the children can count up to a certain number because in this exercise they are listening for the magic number. In time they will learn the correct sequence of counting.

I use dance as a media for learning. In addition to learning dance moves from Classical Ballet, or Hip Hop we also do a lot of running, skipping, galloping, jumping and hopping so this exercise works very nicely as a way to give them a rest and still have learning and skill building take place. Focusing and listening are two essential skills that children will need for school and life.

Healthy eating is another component of health. You can get a free report on healthy eating for kids at http://www.healthykidsweightloss.com.   

Childhood obesity can be easily prevented by doing something as simple as getting your kids to bed on time. We all know that children need their proper rest to grow but we never really look at how a lack of sleep affects the processes of the their young bodies. In addition it not only affects their body but their behavior, productivy and learning and their eating habits.

When children don ‘t get enough sleep they are not getting all the nutrients that their bodies need to grow. This in turn effects blood flow to the brain. Because of the lack of nutrients traveling through the blood going to the brain foggy thinking occurs. This also causes irritablilty and Read more »

Excellent teaching skills were demonstrated in the movie ” The Karate Kid” starring Jaden Smith, Jackie Chen and Taraji Henson. Teaching and parenting are things that people usually do from a place of love.  Jackie Chen’s character(Mr. Hong) tells Jaden Smith’s character (Dre Parker) that there are no bad students only bad teachers.

I understand where Chen was coming from. As teachers and parents it is our job to find out and figure out what it takes to reach our children. Read more »

You may ask what does Verizon Wireless and being loyal to them have to do with teaching children? What does money have to do with it you ask? Plenty!

I just spoke with a wonderful customer service representative named Juan from Verizon Wireless. I explained to him Read more »

This Halloween was extra special as I ran into one of my old students. At such a young age, she is around 3 years old now, I was very surprised that she remembered me. What a wonderful surprise when I opened the door after hearing Trick or Treat Read more »

I had an interesting experience the other day. I was teaching at a school that I have been a consultant for since the early 90s. This school highly values education and appreciates and embraces different techniques to accomplish that goal. I was teaching their 2 1/2 to 3 year old group.

I had given them some choreography to a song from Read more »

Today I had the most wonderful experience after one of my classess. One of my students a 4 year old boy latched on to my leg and proclaimed “I’m going with you!” Sorry J I have to go to another school you have to stay here at your school. Your parents will be looking for you at the end of the day I told him. That didn’t move him one bit still attached to my leg he persisted.” I don’t want to let go. I want to go with you!”

I looked at him fondly remembering all the times I had to sit him in the audience to watch the class until he would change his behavior. Our biggest challenge was keeping him from hitting the other students and following directions. He felt that at any time during the class he could do whatever he wanted to do. It did not make a difference how many times that I would explain that it was time to do another activity or that dance class was over he would throw the fit of life. Read more »

People are really amazed when I tell them I teach Creative Movement and Dance to children from infancy to school age. What can you do with them so young they say? I can understand why they would say that looking at it from someone that doesn’t have the opportunity to be around children all day and work with them.

Hopefully after seeing  the movie “Babies” they will have a better understanding of some of the   things that all babies do and go through no matter the region or culture. This movie chronicles 4 babies from birth to when they take their first step. There is no dialogue at all, just the sounds of the babies and whatever is in their environment at the time.

In the movie we see that babies are great imitators.  Because babies are such great imitators we have an amazing window of opportunity  for future learning and growth and development. We can talk to them    as we would normally talk to  anyone else. This helps babies to learn language faster and begin speaking  earlier.

Babies can learn about their environment, their bodies and how  different body parts work and what these body parts can do. They can learn about what’s happening to them at certain times and learn about cause and effect. For instance you can explain, now it is time to eat we are going to have some peas and carrots and pears yum. Pears are outside  on a tree, remember when I showed you a tree when we were at the park.

Babies are always learning even though they cannot speak yet, they are still learning a  lot.  Their brains are building neuropathways with every experience. These neuropathways are the building blocks for future learning . They lay the groundwork so that when they experience similiar experiences in the future the foundation is already laid.

It is important to take advantage of this opportunity because children go through a pruning of brain cells that are not used. Use it or lose it definitely applies here. The prime time for this opportunity is from birth to 2 years of age. The brain is still growing and developing after this age, it’s just that from 0-2 is the best time.

Lastly children naturally dance when they hear a rhythm. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just clapping and singing can provide good music and get a baby moving. This is a fun form of expression for a baby and children in general. something that they love to do.

So remember babies can do a lot more than you think they can. I’d love to hear about what your babies are doing. Please feel free to post your comments and experiences on this blog.

People are really amazed when I tell them I teach Creative Movement and Dance to children from infancy to school age. What can you do with them so young they say? I can understand why they would say that looking at it from someone that doesn’t have the opportunity to be around children all day and work with them.

Hopefully after seeing  the movie “Babies” they will have a better understanding of some of the   things that all babies do and go through no matter the region or culture. This movie chronicles 4 babies from birth to when they take their first step. There is no dialogue at all, just the sounds of the babies and whatever is in their environment at the time.

In the movie we see that babies are great imitators.  Because babies are such great imitators we have an amazing window of opportunity  for future learning and growth and development. We can talk to them    as we would normally talk to  anyone else. This helps babies to learn language faster and begin speaking  earlier.

Babies can learn about their environment, their bodies and how  different body parts work and what these body parts can do. They can learn about what’s happening to them at certain times and learn about cause and effect. For instance you can explain, now it is time to eat we are going to have some peas and carrots and pears yum. Pears are outside  on a tree, remember when I showed you a tree when we were at the park.

Babies are always learning even though they cannot speak yet, they are still learning a  lot.  Their brains are building neuropathways with every experience. These neuropathways are the building blocks for future learning . They lay the groundwork so that when they experience similiar experiences in the future the foundation is already laid.

It is important to take advantage of this opportunity because children go through a pruning of brain cells that are not used. Use it or lose it definitely applies here. The prime time for this opportunity is from birth to 2 years of age. The brain is still growing and developing after this age, it’s just that from 0-2 is the best time.

Lastly children naturally dance when they hear a rhythm. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just clapping and singing can provide good music and get a baby moving. This is a fun form of expression for a baby and children in general. something that they love to do.

So remember babies can do a lot more than you think they can. I’d love to hear about what your babies are doing. Please feel free to post your comments and experiences on this blog.