How We Use Movement to Help Students in the Classroom
Movement is essential to the development of young children. They know this instinctively, as you have probably guessed as you watch your preschooler zoom across the room for the eighth time in two minutes. What you may not know is just how movement aids in a child’s development and that those benefits go beyond physical growth.
Types of Movement
While unrestrained running across a backyard is undeniably good for children, at Tumblebees Learning Center we go beyond that joyous expression of freedom. Our preschool teachers integrate movement into the overall learning experience so that the children learn to move with more control. Basic tumbling and sports skills are two of the ways we teach children to use their bodies, along with moving to the rhythms of a variety of music.
Social and Cognitive Benefits
Studies have shown that regular physical activity for preschoolers aids in social and cognitive development. We see these results every day in our Tumblebees Learning Center classes. Movement helps young children to control and express emotions. Responding to the rhythms of music offers opportunities for children to count and describe the patterns that appear in the song. All of this promotes the growth of school readiness for all preschool ages by increasing learning capacity and the ability to concentrate.
Physical Benefits
All types of movement help preschool bodies build strength and develop healthy muscles, bones and joints. In turn, coordination improves so that children can participate successfully in games and sports as they move through elementary school and on into higher levels of education. These benefits are built into our curriculum that includes plenty of gymnastics and other sports skills. An extra bonus is that strength and coordination boost a child’s self-confidence as he finds he can keep up with his friends.
Overall, children who are physically active on a regular basis experience better health and miss less school than their more sedentary peers. In addition, an early foundation in the pleasure of movement and exercise will continue to keep them healthier throughout their adult lives. Too many children, even the very young, spend too much time focused on electronic devices. At Tumblebees Learning Center we give them the chance to experience life in the active lane.