mixing, mixing and mixing,” says
Donna.
3
Organise a birthday bash, says
Anuja Agarwal Chandgotia,
founder of Pinnacle Learning
Centre, which organises money-
orientation workshops for kids.
For four- to eight-year-olds, Anuja
suggests combining craft, imagination
and maths skills to organise a
birthday party for a favourite toy. Set
up a store with supplies and ask what
Minnie Mouse, Hello Kitty or Buzz
Lightyear would like at their party.
Make a budget, price the items and
give children real or pretend money
to play with. Have them make a cake
from play dough and make invitations
or a birthday banner. At the end of
the session, celebrate with a plate of
real cookies as a birthday treat.
4
Bounce baby, says Helen Binge,
paediatric physiotherapist and
founder of Physiobaby.
Have fun and stretch with baby at
home. For babies aged three to six
months, Helen suggests this exercise
to increase baby’s hip flexibility, body
awareness and co-ordination. Start
with baby on her back. Bring the soles
of her feet together, then gently clap
them as you would clap your hands. If
baby is happy, lift the feet up towards
the tummy. To progress, lift the feet
toward the chest and then the face
and encourage baby to hold one foot
or two with her hands. If she sucks
her toes, all the better – this is great
sensory stimulation.
For ages six to 12 months, try
this super-fun activity to improve
balance, muscle strength and co-
ordination. Place baby on a gym ball
on his tummy, with your hands firmly
held on his hips and pelvis. Rock baby
back and forward, and if you feel safe
and comfortable, take him side to
side. You can also sit baby on the ball,
with you firmly supporting him, and
bounce him gently up and down.
5
Get yogic, says Annie Walle of
Yoga Kingdom.
Keep rising energy levels in check
with a little yoga. Suitable for kids
aged two to six years, this activity
includes practising poses while
learning about the weather. All
together, sing the words, “What’s
the weather like today? Like today?
Like today? What’s the weather like
today?” standing with legs shoulder-
width apart, gently swinging arms
from side to side. Ask, “Is it…” and
insert the words sunny, windy or
rainy and make a movement that
represents each. To represent the
sun, for example, stand with your
arms held high above your head.
For wind, make a windmill, with
arms outstretched at shoulder level,
and sway from side to side. For
rain, gently tap your fingers all over
your body, starting from the top of
your head down to your feet. You
can tap each other too, says Annie,
for extra tickles and giggles. If the
answer is no, wave your arms while
moving your head left to right:
inhale while turning left and exhale
while moving it back to the right.
If the answer is yes, inhale as your
head moves up, and exhale on the
downward nod.
April 2014
59
