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Learning through Movement
by Helen Landalf

As an infant, virtually all of a child's learning takes place through movement. As he crawls on his belly, and later creeps on his hands and knees, a baby moves in order to explore the world. This early movement is instrumental in developing a child's brain. By kindergarten age, we often wrongly assume that children no longer need movement in order to learn. We expect them to sit still and engage in quiet activities such as listening, reading or writing. However, in eliminating movement from the learning environment, we do children a grave disservice. For preschool-aged children, movement provides a vital link between the body and the mind.

Movement is Important

Movement develops neural connections. Movement actually builds the brain!
Movement helps children to retain what they've learned. Children remember only 20% of what they hear and 30% of what they see. But children remember 90% of what they see, hear, say and DO!
Movement develops visual-spatial awareness, which is important in letter recognition and mathematical understanding.
Movement is fun and engaging, and motivates children to learn.

Many adults shy away from engaging in movement activities with children because they feel they don't know enough about movement. So, here we offer simple movement activities for preschoolers which can easily be led by a teacher or parent.

Try These Simple Activities

Body Shapes
Have your child use his or her body to create the shapes of letters and numbers, or of geometric forms such as triangles, circles or squares. These shapes can be created in a standing position, or with the child lying on the floor. For fun, see if the two of you can create shapes together.

Body Writing
Ask your child to write letters and numbers, or draw shapes and pictures, in the air. This can be done with the hands, feet, elbows, the head, or any other body part that your child chooses. For added enjoyment, allow the child to hold a crepe paper streamer in one hand while writing and drawing. This activity is great for developing hand-eye coordination.

Copy Cat
Have your child face you and copy your simple movements such as stretching high, circling your head, or swaying from side to side. Then let your child take a turn to being the leader. It's nice to do this activity to slow, relaxing music. Playing Copy Cat will help your child to develop visual-spatial awareness.

Free Dance
Dance freely with your child to musical selections with different rhythms, tempos (slow and fast), pitches (high and low) and volumes (loud and soft). Practice reacting with your body to what you hear. For example, dance with strong, powerful movements when the music is loud, and light, delicate movements when the music is soft. Dancing to music develops listening skills. It's also lots of fun!

The fact that your child is tired of sitting still doesn't mean that learning has to stop. Try the activities I've suggested, or develop some of your own. Get your kindergartner out of that chair, and let him learn the way his body does best -- through movement!

About the Author Helen Landalf has been teaching Creative Movement to children since 1987. She also frequently presents workshops for teachers on using movement in the curriculum. Helen is the author of five books for teachers on using movement and drama in the classroom, including Movement Stories for Children (co-authored with Pamela Gerke).

Copyright © 2001 Helen Landalf . All rights reserved.

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