We all know play is important for little peoples’ development – both cognitive and gross motor. But when you’ve exhausted all the usual go-tos (lego, dolls, dress-up and cars), what’s left?
Toddlers absolutely love to be physical (why walk when you can run?). They’re hardwired to want to move and utilise their bodies and we love that, because physical activity leads to better all-round health and wellbeing. Even better, recent research shows that children who were more active in the preschool years remained more active in primary school, and those that were less active in the preschool years remained less active in the primary years.
So, after the playground, what’s next?
Enter READY SET MOVE – a creative movement program designed for toddlers to engage in play with their grown-ups run at Ettingshausens in Kirrawee. The READY SET MOVE program is broken down into three stages:
- ENGAGE: is a playful exploration of music, nursery rhymes, lap play and parachute fun.
- EXPLORE: is set up as a circuit around the room with obstacles like stepping stones, tunnels and sensory activities designed to encourage investigation and build coordination skills.
- EXPRESS: involves free dance movement which develops creativity with instruments, feathers and bubbles.
Early Childhood and Gifted Education Consultant, Dr Cathie Harrison, who consulted on the development of the program, said the results from the recent Royal Children’s Hospital (RCN) National Child Health Poll indicate that many parents have lost the skills of play they had from their childhood and are not confident they can teach their own children how to play. In addition, 86% of parents today say it is hard for them to find time to play with their children.
Dr Harrison said the READY SET MOVE classes fill a gap in parents’ knowledge about how to support and engage with their children during playtime.
“The repetition of music, movement and activity cues helps toddlers to learn to be focused and present,” she said. “Parents also observe the teacher modelling pro-social interactions and responsive language and these are skills they can use during their own interactions with their child.”
READY SET MOVE is just one of the toddler and preschool programs available at Ettingshausens, a Dance, Theatre and Martial Arts centre that has been operating in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire for over 25 years.
For more information about READY SET MOVE and to book a trial class, visit here.
Join the Monday class as part of the ‘‘Move with Me in May’ promotion to receive a free tutu or t-shirt on enrolment.
