Body awareness encompasses our understanding of where our body parts are in space and how they move, allowing us to navigate our environment with precision and coordination. From walking without looking at our feet to the complex movements required in sports, body awareness plays a crucial role in ensuring we move and learn effectively and safely. This article looks at what body awareness is, why it is essential, and provides practical activities to enhance it.

Body awareness can be roughly divided into three areas:

1. Proprioception

This refers to the internal awareness of knowing where our body parts are, how they are moving, and how they relate to each other. This information is received through receptors in our muscles, tendons and joints.

It’s what allows us to touch our nose with our eyes closed, or walk without looking at our feet.

Information regarding body awareness is provided to the brain when muscles and joints work against gravity or resistance.

 Activities like pushing, pulling, hanging, climbing and swinging enhance this inner sense of body awareness.

Playing on obstacle courses, jungle gyms, balance beams, and climbing frames allows children to enhance and activate proprioceptive feedback.

2. Body Concept

This is the ability to name and understand the functions of different body parts. For example, we can shrug our shoulders, bend our elbows, and nod our heads. 

By naming body parts and describing their functions during play time, music ring, storytelling and everyday routines like washing hands and getting dressed, we can help children build a strong body concept. Activities that involve movement and touch also reinforce this understanding, making it an integral part of their learning experience.

Incorporating creative body awareness activities such as drawing, singing, crafting, and perceptual games like puzzles and sorting tasks further enhances fine motor skills and body awareness. 

3. Body Image

This refers to a child’s perception of themselves and their body, which is closely tied to their self-esteem. A healthy body image is nurtured through positive relationships, mutual respect, realistic expectations, and unconditional love.

By fostering independence, providing opportunities for small, achievable successes, and establishing a sense of competence, we can significantly enhance a child’s self-esteem and overall sense of self-worth.

“More than a mental picture of what you look like, your body image consists of your personal relationship with your body – encompassing your perceptions, beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and actions that pertain to your physical appearance. In other words, body image is not a simple singular thing. It is something quite complex and multifaceted.” Thomas F. Cash, Ph.D

Why do we need Body Awareness?

• Physical Coordination: Proper body awareness helps in performing coordinated movements, essential for activities like walking, running, and playing sports.
• Posture and Balance: Maintaining good posture and balance relies heavily on our ability to sense our body’s position. This awareness helps prevent falls and injuries.
• Motor Skills: Fine and gross motor skills are enhanced through body awareness, enabling us to carry out intricate tasks like writing, cutting, and dressing.
• Emotional Regulation: Awareness of bodily sensations can aid in emotional regulation, helping us recognize and respond to stress and anxiety effectively.

Body Awareness Activities

Where can you bend game

Use a bendable doll to demonstrate various joints. Encourage your child to move their joints in as many ways as possible, focusing on the jaw, neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, waist, hips, knees, ankles, and toes.

Simon Says

Play a simple version of ‘Simon Says’. Start by putting your hands on your head and have your child mimic your actions as you clap your hands, shake your feet, turn around, and touch the ground. Encourage children to lead the movements and verbalize the actions.

Body Outline

Have your child lie on a large piece of paper and draw around their body. Together, paint the outline using finger paints or large brushes. Discuss the features and size of their body as you go.

Push and Roll 

Using a large ball or barrel, have your child push against it while you provide resistance from the opposite side. Also, let them roll over the barrel on their tummies for added fun.

Tug of War 

Play a friendly game of tug of war to promote strength and coordination, and increase brain body feedback.

Pillow Fights

Engage in playful pillow fights which are not only fun but also serve as excellent emotional releases, and provide tons of tactile and proprioceptive input!

Trampoline or Bed Jumping

 Let your child jump on a trampoline or a bed to boost their body awareness and coordination.

Ladder Walks

 Have your child hang and walk with their hands underneath a ladder to build strength and spatial awareness.

Balloon Play

 Use balloons for indoor games. Have your child hit the balloons up in the air using different body parts, naming each part as they use it. Play music and stop with the balloon on a different body part each time the music stops.

Animal Walks

 Encourage your child to engage in a variety of animal walks such as bear, crab, snake, and rabbit. Let them invent their own animal walks to stimulate creativity and body awareness.

Movement Variations

 Practice moving and stopping on different body parts like one foot, both feet, hands and knees, etc.

Wheelbarrow Walks

Hold your child’s ankles and have them walk on their hands across the room, ensuring their back stays straight.

Songs

Play our Kids Action Songs! Many of our songs involve movements like clapping, stomping, and jumping. These songs help children learn to associate specific actions with different parts of their body, enhancing their body awareness.

STREAM Kids Action Songs for awesome Body Awareness Songs on Amazon, Spotify or Apple Music. 

Some Song Suggestions from Kids Action Songs:

• Heads and shoulders
• My head my tummy
• Two little hands go clap
• Boogy woogy
• Shake your hands

Click on the link to our YouTube channel for a wide range of Body Awareness Songs: