Hobbies And Interests
SPUD
This game focuses on the gross motor skills of throwing, running, taking large steps and catching. One player throws a ball in the air and calls out the name of another player, who tries to get the ball as quickly as possible. The other players run as far from the ball as they can, but stop as soon as the ball is caught. The player who caught the ball can then take four large steps in any direction, saying "S...P...U...D," and then throw the ball at another player. If the ball hits the other player, she gets a point (or the letter "S"). If the ball misses, or if the targeted player catches the ball, the player who threw the ball gets a point (or the letter "S"). Either way, the player who threw the ball begins the game again by throwing the ball up and calling the name of another player. Play continues until a player gets four points (i.e., all of the letters of the word SPUD). At that point, the player is out. The last two players left in the game are the winners.
All Over
This game focuses on the gross motor skills of throwing and kicking a ball. Two teams stand on either side of a long line, with a large number of balls on top of the line. When the judge of the game calls "All over!" the kids proceed to throw or kick the balls as quickly as they can to the other team&'s side of the line, over and over again. When one team manages to successfully clear all balls from their side of the line, the judge calls "All over!" again, and that team wins.
Mother, May I?
"Mother, May I?" is a surprisingly effective way for kids to practice their gross motor skills. One player is the "mother," standing at one end of a long play area. The other players line up at the other end. They take turns asking the "mother" if they can take different types of steps, such as "Mother, may I take two giant steps?" or "Mother, may I take seven spinning steps?" The "mother" can respond, "Yes, you may," or give an alternative, such as, "No, but you can take three backwards steps." The kids can vary the types of steps used, including sideways steps, jumping steps, hopping steps, skipping steps, or jumping jacks steps. The first player to touch the "mother" becomes the new "mother," and the game starts again.