A physical education curriculum for everyone who works with toddlers and understands the critical role of movement in early childhood.

More than 50 movement activities for toddlers

Physical education is a critical part of every early childhood curriculum. Children need to move to channel their energies in creative, beneficial ways and to learn habits for lifelong health and fitness.Toddlers Moving & Learning provides more than 50 developmentally appropriate activities that contribute to a well-rounded curriculum in any classroom or program.

The book contains
An updated introduction reflecting new research and trends in early childhood health and fitness and information on how movement benefits children’s learning and development
Fourteen lesson plans, each with one body parts activity, one nonlocomotor activity, one locomotor skill experience, and one activity exploring an element of movement, for a total of 56 activities
Extension ideas and adaptations to use with children who have special needs
Curriculum connections for each activity and explanations about how activities are aligned with and meet early learning standards from NAEYC and AAHPERD
Original music to add joy and energy to the activities

Table of Contents

Activity Chart
Curriculum Connectors Chart
Song List
Preface
Introduction
Benefits of Moving & Learning
Implementing the Program
Toddlers: Developmental Considerations

Lesson 1
Heads, Bellies, Toes
Let’s Stretch
Let’s Walk
Exploring Up and Down

Lesson 2
Show Me
Let’s Bend
Let’s Run
Exploring Straight and Round

Lesson 3
Flexing/Pointing Feet
Let’s Shake
Let’s Jump
Shapes in Motion

Lesson 4
“Where Is Thumbkin?”
Let’s Sway
Tiny Steps/Giant Steps
Being Balloons

Lesson 5
“Open & Close”
Let’s Turn
Let’s Gallop
“Pop Goes the Weasel”

Lesson 6
“The Wash Song”
Bending and Stretching
Let’s Creep
“Moving Slow/Moving Fast”

Lesson 7
See My Hands
Let’s Strike
Let’s Roll
“The Bumblebee”

Lesson 8
See My Feet
Let’s Push and Pull
“Marching Band”
Moving Backward

Lesson 9
See My Face
The Tightrope
Follow the Leader
“Marching Slow/Marching Fast”

Lesson 10
Mirror Game
Let’s Lift
Moving Like the Animals
“Slow-Motion Moving”

Lesson 11
Simon Says
Let’s Balance
Let’s Tiptoe
“The Tiptoe Song”

Lesson 12
“The Body Song”
Shake, Wiggle, and Vibrate
Let’s Jump Again
“Moving Softly/Moving Loudly”

Lesson 13
Body-Part Balance
“High & Low”
Let’s Crawl
“Robots & Astronauts”

Lesson 14
Traveling Body Parts
“In My Space”
Follow the Leader
“Common Meters”

References
Additional Resources