Paediatric Physiotherapist Alta Crous highly recommends rough and tumble play for children. She believes that rough and tumble play is unique in that it is not ‘planned’ movement and reaction. It is based on spontaneity and encourages children to use a wide range of movements which occur in all planes (horizontal, vertical and diagonal). At times it forces children to respond to unexpected and unusual movements.

“Rough and tumble play stimulates the balance receptors and promotes a child’s use of protective reactions. Playing in this way is invigorating and fun. It gives children confidence in their own ability to move, thereby encouraging them to venture out on their own. This sort of confidence overflows into all areas of a child’s life.”

The wonderful thing about this type of play is that it doesn’t cost anything, its fun to participate in, and can be used as the perfect bonding activity with children of all ages.

So why not get rolling, tumbling, wrestling and rocking with your kids!

Here are some ideas to get you going:

1. Tunnel houses

Make a house or bridge with your body. Your child will love to crawl under, through and over you! Make a tunnel with your legs or arms and let your child crawl through it. Gradually, make the tunnel smaller and tighter so that he has to struggle to get through it. The physical exertion of pushing though builds body strength and perseverance. Playing this game with siblings adds to the fun.

2. Horse Rides

With your child sitting or lying on your back, rock and then crawl, or stand up and gallop. This is a great balancing game.

3. Body Push

Crouch on your hands and knees. Let your child push you over. Then, when it is his turn, you try to push him over as he resists. This game promotes proprioception, an internal body awareness that is developed when a child pushes or pulls, or works against gravity and resistance. It also helps to build core strength.

4. Boat Rock

Lie your child on your tummy. Gently rock from side to side. Sit facing each other with legs bent. Hold hands and rock forwards and backwards. Increase the pace to go as fast as you can. This game develops the front/back body midline, promotes coordination of the left and right body sides, and develops balance.

5. Body Shapes

Stand or sit opposite each other and mirror each other’s movements. Make your body into different shape…round, oval, narrow, stretched, small, tall, short, twisted, thin, fat, curved, flat, long, curled, crooked, straight, diamond, circle, triangle. Then see if you can position each other’s bodies into whatever shape you want your partners body to be in. This is a wonderful motor planning exercise.

6. Tug of War

Sit back-to-back, knees bent, feet and hands on the floor. Push! Sit facing each other. Pull! The perfect game to promote proprioception!

7. Little Parcels

Your child lies on his back and hides his tummy with his arms and legs. Try to open his arms and legs to find his tummy. When he is strong enough, he can be lifted by his arms and legs while in the parcel position. How strong are you?

8. Heavy Feet

In standing, let your child put his feet on your feet. Walk together. Sit him on your foot. Hold on tightly and off you shuffle. Great for general coordination and balance.

9. Play ‘Simon Says’

Take turns in giving instructions. Put your hands on your head, put your knees on the ground, stand on one leg. You can talk or mime the instructions. Then up the game by having your child and yourself include instructions such as swing me around and around, pick me up under my arms, and see if you can lift me, push or pull each other up or down. Great for listening skills, sequencing and motor planning. Then do the hokey pokey to some music!

10. Pedal Pushes

Lie on the floor with feet and knees bent. Push each other’s feet like a bicycle. This is a difficult one to coordinate and requires the ability to coordinate the left and right side of the body, as well as rhythm and timing, promoting bilateral integration.

DID YOU KNOW?

We can move:           

On our own –   Walk, run, hop, gallop

With people – In pairs, copying, following, passing

With objects –  Balls, balloons, bats, racquets

With imagination – Trudge, plod, slide, scamper, dash

STREAM our Kids Action Songs for these activities:

Ride a cock horse – For horse rides

Row your boat – For the boat game

Clamber Clubbing Hokey Pokey – For Simon Says

The Mole – For pushing and pulling