Walls, like the floor, are a very underrated resource for promoting physical activity, usually because they are covered in bits and pieces or can’t be accessed as furniture is in the way. You need to find a wall that is clear, and you won’t mind if it gets a bit scuffed. You don’t need too much space but just enough so children can access it easily. Please take shoes and socks off if possible.
What you need A clear wall space, masking tape (or any coloured tape) and cotton wool balls
What to do
Starting by sticking three horizontal strips of masking tape on the wall at children’s tummy and head height and approximately 50cms above head height. Then invite your child/ren to:
- sit with their knees touching the wall – Can they stretch up and touch the first tape, or maybe the second? Repeat until getting a bit puffed.
- put their feet against the wall and lie down on their backs, keeping their heels glued to the floor, and ask them to sit up and try to touch a strip of tape – a bit like a sit-up!
- lie on their tummies with their feet touching the wall, then try to push their bodies off the floor to make a V shape with their bottoms high in the air, drop down onto tummies, then push up again a bit higher. Repeat.
- try and take their body weight on their hands and walk their feet a little way up the wall. (This is only suitable for stronger children.)
- squat down then jump up to touch the top strip of tape and repeat until they are a bit puffed
Now cover the top strip of tape with another piece, and tuck the ends in so the sticky side is facing outwards and invite your child/children to jump up and stick the cotton wool balls on the tape until it is completely covered.
What’s in it for children
All these activities are really good for promoting overall body strength, balance and co-ordination. It is surprising how much you can do in a small space with a bit of masking tape! You could always combine these exercises with the floor activities in Part 3 and use the same space you have made available.
Taking it forwards
Over a few weeks you can add higher strips and see if children can reach them by stretching and jumping. The activities when children are sitting up to touch the tape – or walking their feet up the wall can be repeated frequently and they will feel themselves getting stronger and more competent. You can add a timing element to these activities eg. how many times can you do this in 1 minute – and create a chart so they can plot their progress.
Younger children may like to decorate the strips of tape with a range of materials eg. wool, bottle tops, stickers – you can leave them up to be added to over time that provides something creative to talk about and discuss.
Next week we will explore some of the movement possibilities offered by an ordinary table.
