Image: Mi Pham
Moving outdoors provides an easy access to and a scaffold for the practice of dynamic 3-Dimensional movement. It is moving 3-D that counters the effects of all our time spent in 2-D (screen time, etc). Being in nature also awakens all our senses (estimated at over 20 in the human body), which is important for brain development at all ages. It is the sensory stimulation that supports the sensory integration – that supports all other cognitive functioning. So when we take our children outside, magic happens with very little effort on the caregivers part!
We all need to invite ourselves and children to move in a wide variety of ways, and opening our sensory intelligence through dynamic movement!
Here are some simple outdoor movement ideas:
-
Image: Maxime Bhm Rolling down grassy hills.
- Crawling through sand like crabs, lizards, etc.
- Climbing trees safely “as if you were a monkey”.
- Hanging upside down safely from a low branch.
- Climbing up and down natural features.
- Jumping and splashing in water.
- Swimming on all sides of the body.
- Outdoor obstacle courses.
- Catching giant bubbles.
- Walking on uneven ground.
- Catch and release butterflies.
- Biking and all sports that involve moving through space.
