The children showed interest in using objects in the yard to balance. Below are some pictures of the children displaying various types of balancing.
This child propped a piece of wood on top of a log. When she walked across the plank it tipped like a teeter totter. She held her hands out to maintain balance.
This child propped a piece of wood against a high platform. At first he tested it by crawling up the log. Once he felt sturdy he carefully walked up the plank to the top. He used trial and error to test out the plank first.
On the other side of the yard the children found some logs lying on the ground. The logs were positioned one after another like a balance beam.
This child walked from one log to another holding his balance.
She holds her arms out to support her upper body.
Steeping one foot in front of the other on a skinny log uses a lot of coordination.
"I can walk on the log" she says proudly.
Jumping or stepping from one rock to another also using balancing skills. You need to use perception to see how far away the object is.
Standing on one foot is a basic balancing skill, this skill is very helpful in teaching the body how to balance.
Balancing is important because it improves the bodies coordination. Balance is a fundamental skill necessary for everyday tasks such as sitting in a chair, or engaging in physical activities like running or riding a bike.
Written by: Mrs. Zilkie
