Kids got the Wiggles. Get the Wiggles out with Fun Book Activities
Winter or a rainy day will not keep the kids down, with these fun must move to books and activities.
Children need to move. What a great way to spend a day inside with a great book that gets them up, moving and grooving. Join us as we explore movement through bouncing, wiggling, stretching, yoga and more. Get ready to move.
Set the mood with a great read aloud poem.
A little wiggle, jiggle and some giggle will go a long way.
Sometimes you wiggle
and you don't know what you can do.
It starts at your little toe
Oh no, say it's not true.
The wiggle, has added a jiggle
and you must move around.
So start the wigglin and jigglin
without falling down.
You could try to sit or even lie around.
But try as you might,
You just can't stay down,
As you wiggle, jiggle, and giggle out of sight.
By Misti Hight
Did you know?
It is recommended that preschoolers (age 3-5) have 60 minutes or more of adult-directed active play and 60 minutes or more of free active play each day.
Tips for Reading Aloud With Your Child
Find a quiet time to read together. One of the best parts about reading aloud is having your child sit on your lap or snuggled up to you.
Before reading the book, talk about the book cover, the title, and what the child thinks the book will be about. Then do a "book walk" before you read by quickly going through the book and asking your child about what is happening on each page. This gives you time to talk about the illustrations and help build vocabulary. After reading one or both books be sure to ask your child some questions.
Wiggle
Do you
wake up
with a
wiggle?
Do you
wiggle
out of bed?
For energetic toddlers and preschoolers, here is a book that invites them to wiggle along with the story. Told in rollicky, wiggly rhyme that begs to be read again and again. Wiggle will have your children up and moving in no time.
Bounce
Bounce a ball right off your hands.
Bounce it off your toes.
Try to bounce a beach ball on the tip of your nose!
If your toddlers and preschoolers did not get enough "Wiggle", invite them now to hop, leap, pounce, and bounce to their hearts' content (though not on couches!). Because, after all, it's better to have bounced and bumped than never to have bounced at all.
What was your favorite way to wiggle or bounce?
What is the silliest way you can wiggle or bounce?
Enjoy a Good Wiggle and Bounce
Besides the books being so great. Here is great movement activities when you are done reading.
Physical activity is essential for a child's overall development. Put on some bouncing and hopping music and get ready to move. Ask your child to make up a "Wiggle Dance" or a "Bounce Dance". The important thing here is to make sure that you join in. A good wiggle or bounce is a great stress relief for adults.
Materials Needed
3 different colors of crepe paper streamers
construction paper
markers or crayons
stickers
glue
stapler
tape
A Great Extension Idea.
Make a ribbon wand.
The wands are easy to make with easy to find materials
1. Roll and 8.5 x11 sheet of construction paper into a tube, which is about 1" in diameter. (This is the common size of construction paper.) Make sure you roll it the long way.
2. Fasten the tube with piece of tape at each end and a third piece in the middle.
3. Cut whatever color of crepe paper streamer, each 36" long. I suggest at least three streamers, but more can be used.
4. Fold each streamer in half. Hold folded ends together and fasten with a staple or glue.
5. Place a piece of tape around the joined ends and secure it into the top of the wand. Pinch the top of the wand together around the streamer and secure. I suggest this be stapled for durability.
Did you know?
Current statistics show that 37% of American school children are overweight and one in every 4 is obese. Inactivity is hurting our brains as well as our bodies. So, get up, get moving, and have fun.
Still feel the need to wiggle. - Try some of these Wiggles.
Stretch - "Stretch with me, hands in the air! Count to three...Hold it right there!"
Ready...
Set...
Stretch!
Can you stretch to the ceiling?
Can you stretch to the floor?
You can stretch with a whisper;
You can stretch with a roar.
Now that you have wiggled and bounced the energy out, get out the last book in the series. Read aloud with your child and start your cool down. Have the children join in with the fun...
Three more books, to keep your children moving and reading.
From Head to Toe
Are you ready?
Here we go!
Move yourself
From Head to Toe
I can do it! That's what kids will say when they wiggle, stomp, thump, and bend across the pages of this book. Laughter and squeals of delight will abound as boys and girls (and their elders, too!) participate in the action.
My Daddy is a Pretzel
Limber up with this unique, child-friendly yoga book! Created for parents and children to share together, but also suitable for adults and older children to use alone, My Daddy is a Pretzel not only introduces a range of postures, it also connects the practices to everyday life, showing how families can integrate their yoga with their activities in the world. A light-hearted look at yoga, yet one with a lasting message, My Daddy is a Pretzel is a wonderful introduction to yoga for readers of all shapes and sizes.
Clap Your Hands
Take off your shoes and jump right into this bright, energetic, read-aloud rhyme filled with sing-along and act-along verse which invites youngsters to swirl, twirl and spin for an exhilarating read-and-play time.
Links to Great Information About Literacy and Health - I found some of my information with these links.
- Learning Connections
A website that has a wealth of kits or parents and teachers, for early literacy. Learning connections was founded by Judy Guenzel in 2002. Some of the information above was found through this wonderful website. - KidsHealth
I really think this link is great. It is divided into three sections: parents, kids, teens. There is just a wealth of information about everything you could think to ask and somethings that maybe you would not have thought to ask.
SquiDirectory - Visit the SquiDirectory Squidoo directory, and find something interesting to read about!