Skipping is great for getting kids moving and the perfect activity for the local park or the playground.
Skipping is fun, free and with current concerns about childhood obesity in the UK, it’s a great form of exercise and a way of getting children outside in the fresh air. It is an activity my daughter has loved ever since a skipping craze developed in her class at school last year. Suddenly all the girls were bringing skipping ropes in and learning skipping rhymes together in the playground. The boys were known to join in too.
Like hopscotch, it is a traditional playground game that has been around for years and all you need is a skipping rope and some open space. My daughter likes it because it is not an activity exclusively for children who are good at sports; anyone can have a go. Since being introduced to skipping at school, she regularly takes her skipping rope into the back garden or up to the local park and has enjoyed developing a range of tricks and skills. The fact that she is quite good has given her a confidence boost too.
According to the British Rope Skipping Association, skipping also improves concentration and behaviour, helps develop stronger bones and improves balance and agility. It is also an activity than can be studied beyond the playground and performed at championship level.
According to TeachersNet, many teachers are now using skipping in PE classes or as a form of 'brain gym' to wake children up and release pent-up energy. Such is the popularity of skipping that many schools are also setting up skipping clubs.
ReadyforTen has its own skills section on skipping with advice on how get started and how to perform a range of tricks. These tricks include criss-cross, double under, the toad (which looks particularly difficult), and triples, quads and quins (which I think my daughter is a few years away from mastering yet). An impressive video demonstration shows how some of the tricks should be done.
Skip-hop has further information on skipping games, skipping rhymes and includes a number of videos showing what can be done with a skipping rope many hours of practise.
Do you children love skipping? Are there other playground games they particularly enjoy?
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admin
02 September, 2010
My daughter is desperate to skip as all the other little girls at school and Rainbows can. I've mentioned before that she has a mild form of Cerebral Palsy which affects her balance and spacial perception, so skipping is something she finds particularly tricky.
It's hard to tell she's any different to anyone else her age she just looks a little clumsy, and normally she's not too bothered by not being able to keep up with some things the other little girls do, but skipping REALLY bothers her for some reason. I try to encourage her to keep at it, but she gets so cross with herself and is quite defeatist about it (code for throws rope down and walks off).
Do you have any suggestions Rosie on how I could help to support her with this a bit better?
Leigh
Ready for Ten Team
mum
02 September, 2010
Leigh, yes, I hope so. My daughter has had problems in the past with her balance and co-ordination and to an extent she still does, although it is not obvious. She was diagnosed with celebral palsy aged 4 months, but we were lucky because the diagnosis proved to be incorrect. She had physiotherapy for many years to straighten her spine and although she walked later she is catching up with her peers.
Her schools runs a group called Fun Fit which is a programme designed for children with either some special needs or difficulties with co-ordination and balance. My daughter has benefited hugely from it. It is definitely worth investigating at your daughter's school.
As for skipping, it may be just too difficult for your daughter yet so I'd stick to things that give her a confidence boost because she is able to do them. For a long time my daughter did not spend any time on her scooter because she just couldn't manage it. The same applies, even now, to riding a bike - her friends can manage without stablisers but she can't. We focused on what she can do rather than what she can't.
And I'm sure there are so many things your little girl can do, I'd focus on them.
Rosie.
admin
03 September, 2010
Thanks Rosie, you clearly know exactly what challenges we face and I appreciate all the feedback and suggestions. It's really upsetting to watch your little girl struggling but you are so right in that we do need to concentrate on what she can do, rather than what she struggles with for now.
I will investigate Fun Fit and see if they have anything in our area. It's funny you mention scooters because that was such a problem initially for A to work out, but just 9 months later she is really building her strength and confidence and whizzes around quite well.
Leigh
Ready for Ten Team
03 September, 2010
Rosie, Miss M is desperate to learn to skip. SJe can do one and thinks that is fabulous, but I know she'd love to be able to do more. Maybe IJ can teach her. :D