View, Do and Read

Get your kids moving
By Kate Cleveland View, Do, Read

Young children often get lots of exercise through play, but it's still important to make sure your child is getting many opportunities to move.

Exercise helps your child develop a strong and healthy body and can be lots of fun as well. As spring approaches, encourage your child to get some exercise by making movement fun and making sure it's a family affair.

This month, try some new exercise activities together. Many of the children's programs on WHYY TV12 offer great ideas for helping your child to get moving.

View
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood features a full week of programming about dance that includes a visit with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, a tap dancer and a performance by folk dancers. April 1 through 5 at 1 p.m. on WHYY TV12.

Do
Follow The Leader This is a favorite game for children all over the country. It requires no materials, can be played by large or small groups and can be adapted to meet the abilities of many different children. It's also a great way to help kids learn to follow directions.

Instructions: Gather together the children who will be participating. Begin by moving your body in simple ways. For example, jump up and down once. Ask the children to "follow the leader" by jumping up and down. You can then try more complex movements if you'd like to. Once the children have a good understanding of the game, allow them to take turns being the leader themselves.

Shake Your Sillies Out A great way to combine "doing and reading" is with this song and dance activity. Shake Your Sillies Out is a wonderful song and book by renowned children's recording artist Raffi. Check out a copy of the song or book and get moving with your children.

What You'll Need:

Shake Your Sillies Out by Raffi (available in CD or cassette and book formats)

Instructions: Read through Shake Your Sillies Out. Ask children to follow along by "shaking their sillies out," "clapping their crazies out" and "yawning their sleepies out." Once you've read the book, try moving and grooving along to the CD or cassette. This is a great activity for those rainy days when you really need to find a way to move.

Read

Toddlerobics written and illustrated by Zita Newcome Join a diverse group of toddlers as they do their own fun-filled version of aerobics. The bright, clear illustrations and rhythmic text encourage lots of participation. Young children will want to clap, turn, twirl and dance along as they listen to this terrific read-aloud. Recommended for infants and toddlers.

Bearobics: A Hip-Hop Counting Story by Victoria Parker; illustrated by Emily Bolam Kangaroos, penguins and bears, oh my! A fuzzy bear and his boom box bring dancing delight to an eclectic group of animals. Count along as two kangaroos and "three giggling gorillas get into the groove." Your own little ones will soon be singing and dancing along. Recommended for preschoolers.

Quick As a Cricket by Audrey Wood; illustrated by Don Wood This gentle book accompanies a young boy as he imitates a variety of animals. He is "tame as a poodle" and "wild as a chimp." The authors showcase the many moods and movements of various animals and invite readers to try them out for themselves. This book is also available in board book format for very young children. Recommended for toddlers and preschoolers.

Kate Cleveland is WHYY's Children's Services manager.