Active

Learning
A Resource Guide for Designing and Implementing
Developmentally Appropriate Movement Experiences for
Young Children Ages 3 to 5 in Home, School, and
Community Environments

Developed by the
Minnesota Developmental Adapted Physical Education Leadership Committee
Fall 2003
 Acknowledgments
The production of this resource guide was made possible by the
Minnesota Developmental Adapted Physical Education Leadership Committee.

Writing Committee:
Mary Guler, Chair
Developmental Adapted Physical Education Teacher
Forest Lake Area Schools #831

Elizabeth Deretich, Co-Chair

Developmental Adapted Physical Education Teacher
Anoka-Hennepin School District #11

Lynn Cox
Developmental Adapted Physical Education Teacher
Osseo Area Schools #279

Dr. Carol Leitschuh

School of Kinesiology
University of Minnesota

Terry Lubbers
Developmental Adapted Physical Education Teacher
Eden Prairie School District #272

Nancy Rud Gordon

Developmental Adapted Physical Education Teacher
Burnsville School District #199

Reviewers for this guide were people from across the state of Minnesota involved in
movement programs for young children. Reviewers included: administrators, parents,
daycare providers, preschool teachers, Early Childhood Family Education teachers, Early
Childhood Special Education teachers, Developmental Adapted Physical Education
teachers, occupational therapists, and physical therapists.
We gratefully acknowledge their insights and expertise in reviewing this document.
Table of Contents Page

Intended Audience and Purpose

Introduction 1
Content Overview 1
Importance of Movement for Young Children 1
3
Quality Movement Programs for Young Children
Premises of Quality Movement Programs for Young Children 3
Appropriate Practice in Movement Education Programs 5
8
Movement Content Areas
Movement Component Description Chart 9
Instructional Format 10
Appropriate Instructional Methods to Use When Teaching Movement
Activities to Young Children 11
Equipment Suggestions for Movement Education Programs 12
Movement Skills Curriculum Template 14

Sample Lessons from the Eight Movement Component Areas 16

Movement Area: Locomotor Skills 17
Skill: Jumping 17
Skill: Galloping 19
20
Movement Area: Object Control
Skill: Throwing 20
Skill: Catching 22
Skill: Kicking 24
26
Movement Area: Body Awareness
Skill: Identifying Body Parts 26
28
Movement Area: Spatial Concepts
Skill: Moving Through An Obstacle Course 28
Movement Area: Body Actions
Skill: Non-Locomotor Movements 30

Movement Area: Rhythmic Activities

Skill: Manipulating Ribbon Sticks 33
Table of Contents Page
35
Movement Area: Play Skills
Skill: Climbing and Sliding 35
Skill: Pedaling a Wheeled Toy 37
Skill: Propelling a Scooterboard 40
Skill: Swinging 42
Skill: Pulling a Wagon or Toy 44
46
Movement Area: Group Games
Skill: Movement Skills Vary with Individual Games 46
Evaluations
49
Evaluating the Movement Skills and Abilities of Young Children
Formal and Informal Evaluations 49
Evaluating Movement Education Programs 49
National Physical Education Standards/ Kindergarten / Benchmarks / Preschool 50
Movement Curriculum Outcomes
54
Modifying Movement Experiences for Young Children
Approaches to Modifications 54
Modifying Curriculum 56
Changing the Play Environment 57
Selecting Equipment 57
Including Children with Disabilities 58
Evaluating Modifications 58
59
Expanded Movement Opportunities
Indoor Play 59
Outdoor Play 62

Understanding the Roles of Teachers and Therapists 66

in Early Childhood Special Education Movement Settings
The Developmental Adapted Physical Education (DAPE) Teacher 66
The Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Teacher 67
Occupational Therapy (OT) 67
Physical Therapy (PT) 67
69
Resources
Glossary 69
Acronyms 72
Equipment/Materials 74
Publishers 76
Music 77
Aquatics 78
Resource Books 79
Website Resources 82
Early Childhood Greatest Musical Hits! 84
Appendix A
Obstacle Course Illustration 86
Appendix B
Selected Group Games 87
Appendix C
Movement Activity Parent Interview Form (Sample) 91
Appendix D
Movement Activity Checklist (Sample) 94
Appendix E
Tools for Evaluating Young Children 97
Appendix F
Special Education Laws 98
Federal Law 98
Physical Education 99
Minnesota Law 100
Disability Categories 101
Special Education Eligibility 101
Early Childhood Special Education Eligibility Criteria 103
Developmental Adapted Physical Education Eligibility Criteria 104
Special Education Process (IDEA)
105
Evaluations 105
Individual Education Plans 106
Related Services 107
Least Restrictive Environment 107
Educational Placements 107
Instructional Delivery of Programs 108
 Intended Audience and Purpose

Adults in our audience may include administrators, parents,

daycare providers, preschool teachers, Head Start teachers, Early
Childhood Family Education teachers, Early Childhood Special
Education teachers, physical education teachers, Developmental
Adapted Physical Education teachers, occupational therapists, and
physical therapists.

The purpose of this resource guide is to support adults in

designing, implementing, and teaching developmentally
appropriate movement activities to young children ages three to
five. These children include those who are typically developing
and those who have special needs.

The philosophy and content of this movement resource is based

upon current appropriate best practice principles.

For DAPE teachers, this guide is intended to be used as a

supplement to the more conclusive Minnesota DAPE Best Practice
Operational Guide.
Introduction

Young Children are Movers!

This resource guide recognizes that learning how to perform movement skills is a vital
part of every young child’s life. When children are moving, they are developing
physically as well as mentally, socially and emotionally. The field of early childhood
movement has a “best practice” that supports these principles. It emphasizes that young
children learn movement skills best when instructional strategies are exciting, attractive,
and well-planned; thus affording children opportunities to be successful in learning
movement skills. Success positively impacts the child’s motivation to participate in
physical activity and it also increases the value that physical activity has for the child.
This sets the stage for individuals to be physically active throughout their lifetime.

Content Overview
This guide provides details for creating and implementing movement programs for young
children. It defines the importance of movement, the components of movement, and
provides a basis for offering structured and unstructured movement opportunities in
homes, schools, and communities. Best practice and lesson planning are presented. The
guide provides readers with information on equipment suggestions, evaluations, and
strategies for modifying activities and adapting equipment. There is also a section on
movement opportunities outside the more formal educational setting. The roles of motor
specialists and special education law for children with disabilities are also addressed.
Finally, there is a listing of valuable resource materials to support teachers and caregivers
who interact daily with young children.

Importance of Movement for Young Children

In the early stages of life, the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical developmental
domains are intertwined. Therefore, when young children move, they are learning about
being physically active AND are also developing their social, emotional, and cognitive
skills. Given a new experience, these children are learning in multiple domains.

Movement is Learning
Over 50 years ago the Swiss psychologist, Piaget, explained that play is the work of
children and that the child’s “job” is to explore his/her world. This early exploration
occurs as the child moves. The University of Minnesota motor development scholar, Dr.
Allen Burton, explained that a movement performance is the product of the unique
qualities of the child, the environment in which the activity takes place, and the task that
is asked of the child. Change any one of these variables, and the movement performance
will most likely differ.

Learning how to move is more than just engaging in recess or free play. Instead, the
important task of learning how to move benefits from guidance and opportunity. The
Russian child psychologist, Vygotsky, influenced modern thought on child development
with the report that adults provide scaffolds by which children learn about their world.
When a child needs help in making it into the next stage of learning, the adult is there to
facilitate their new movement experience. For example: When grasping the hand of a

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toddler learning to step up on a curb for the first time, the child will pass through a series
of stages from dependence to independence. Examples of the stages may include
demonstration, physical assistance, and verbal cues, along with many opportunities for
practice.

Early Brain Development and Sensory Stimulation

Early brain stimulation through early life experiences is important and shapes the later
life of an individual. Much has been written regarding brain development and early
childhood (e.g., National Research Council, 2000) and one important outcome
emphasizes that, if a child needs help due to lag in development, it is critical to identify it
early so creative interventions can be applied successfully to boost the positive
development for the child (Bailey, Bruer, Symons, and Lichtman, 2001). This
information counters the notion that, if the child hasn’t experienced certain skills at a
specific time in development, they will not develop that skill. But rather, if a
developmental lag is discovered, early intervention will help promote the maximum
development of these skills.

Brain development literature supports the notion that when a child’s brain is stimulated at
these early ages, they are learning in multiple domains: language, social, cognitive and
movement. Thus, when a child is engaged in movement activity that is developmentally
appropriate they are learning in all the domains and their sensory system (sight, taste,
touch, hearing, seeing) is also being stimulated and developed. It is important to teach at
developmentally appropriate levels because it breeds the child’s participation and affords
an opportunity for success. For example, it is not appropriate to teach young children
highly organized sports or competitive games because they do not have the cognitive,
physical, or social skills at this age. This guide provides examples of developmentally
appropriate movement activities that consider the cognitive, social/emotional, and
physical development of young children.

Conclusion
As their caregivers and educators, we acknowledge that children ages 3 to 5 are on an
exciting journey when they develop knowledge, skills, and positive attitudes for learning
how to move and make healthy lifestyle choices. The following chapters provide all the
necessary ingredients to create and implement a dynamic movement program for young
children.

2
Quality Movement Programs for Young Children

The best practice for creating movement programs for young children is often referred to
as appropriate practice. In 2000, two organizations published a list of appropriate
practice for teaching young children movement skills: the National Association for Sport
and Physical Education (NASPE) and the Council on Physical Education for Children
(COPEC). And, in 2002, recognizing the work of COPEC, the National Association for
the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in cooperation with Human Kinetics
Publishers, published Active for Life: Developmentally Appropriate Movement Programs
for Young Children.

The following guidelines are adapted from the position statement of the National
Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and the Council on Physical
Education for Children (COPEC), which are published as Appropriate Practices in
Movement Programs for Young Children Ages 3-9 by the American Alliance of Health
Physical Education Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) (2000).

Why? Because physical activity classes for young children should be taught differently
than physical activity classes for older children. The end result is a quality program
where young movers are successful because instruction matches developmental level.

Premises of Quality Movement Programs for Young Children

1. Teachers of young children are guides or facilitators.

Young children learn through involvement, observation, and modeling, which
requires teachers to facilitate children’s active involvement in learning. Teachers
construct the environment with specific outcomes in mind and then guide the
children toward these goals. By carefully observing the children’s responses and
interests, teachers are able to adapt the learning experiences to best meet each
individual child’s needs. Children are allowed to make choices and seek creative
solutions. They are provided the time and opportunity to explore appropriate
responses. Teachers show interest and participate in movement activities,
engaging the children in the activity, thereby extending the children’s learning.

2. Children should engage in movement programs designed for their

developmental levels.
Young children need a variety of experiences that will lead to mature fundamental
motor skills. The development of fundamental motor abilities is age related, not
age determined. Teachers of 3, 4, and 5 year old children need to fully understand
the continuum of motor development from infancy through age 5 as it differs
from that of elementary school–aged children.

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 3. Young children learn through interaction with their environment.
This well-established concept has been stated in many ways—children learn by
doing; children learn through active involvement with people and objects.
Developmentally appropriate movement programs for young children are
designed so all children are active participants.

4. Young children learn and develop in an integrated fashion.

Motor, cognitive, emotional, and social development are interrelated. Learning
experiences in movement should encompass and interface with other areas of
development. Regularly scheduled movement experiences should focus on the
development of fundamental motor skills while incorporating these experiences in
the child’s total development. Movement is a primary medium for young
children’s learning.

5. Planned movement experiences enhance play experiences.

A combination of play along with planned movement experiences specifically
designed to help children develop fundamental motor skills, is beneficial in
assisting young children in their development. Regularly scheduled and
appropriately designed movement experiences are enhanced with regular indoor
and outdoor play experiences giving children an opportunity to freely practice and
develop skills.

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)’s position on the
importance of physical activity for children ages 3-5 is as follows:

“All children ages three to age five should engage in daily physical activity that
promotes health-related fitness and movement skills.”

The following five guidelines were written by NASPE in Active Start (2002) to address
questions such as: What kind of physical activity is best for young children? In what
environment should the activity take place? What individuals are responsible for
facilitating the physical activity?

Guideline 1. Preschoolers should accumulate at least 60 minutes daily of

structured physical activity.

Guideline 2. Preschoolers should engage in at least 60 minutes and up to several

hours of daily, unstructured physical activity and should not be
sedentary for more that 60 minutes at a time except when sleeping.

Guideline 3. Preschoolers should develop competence in movement skills that

are building blocks for more complex movement tasks.

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 Guideline 4. Preschool children should have indoor and outdoor areas that meet
or exceed recommended safety standards for performing large
muscle activities.

Guideline 5. Preschoolers responsible for the well-being of young children

should be aware of the importance of physical activity and facilitate
the child’s movement skills.

Appropriate Practice in Movement Education Programs

1. Making Curriculum Decisions

The movement curriculum has a scope and sequence based upon appropriate
outcomes for children’s motor, cognitive, emotional, and social development.

2. Facilitating Total Development

Movement activities are designed to enhance the total development of the
child: motor, cognitive, emotional, and social skills.

3. Designing Learning Experiences

Direct (e.g. task instruction, task stations, guided discovery) and indirect (e.g.
free play, structured free play) teaching methods are used to provide young
children with instructional models to replicate and to encourage children to
challenge themselves in their environment.

4. Developing Movement Skills and Concepts

Children are provided with adequate practice sessions within the context of
their daily educational experiences, allowing them to develop a functional
understanding of movement concepts and fundamental motor skills.

5. Implementing Assessment
Motor skill tests that are formal (standardized), and informal (non-
standardized) plus ongoing observations of the young child during movement
activities, are used to identify children with special needs, plan objective-
oriented lessons, individualize instruction (when needed), communicate with
parents and care providers, and evaluate the program’s effectiveness.

6. Facilitating Maximum Participation

Young children need sufficient equipment, brief rest periods, and
modifications (when necessary), to enhance maximum participation in
movement activities. Children need to be physically active and should not be
waiting their turn to participate in movement activities.

7. Allowing for Repetition and Variation

Within a lesson, the teacher focuses on the desired skill(s), while providing
adequate opportunities for practicing and learning the skill.

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8. Promoting Non-Competitive Success for All Children
In a comfortable setting for the children, non-competitive opportunities to
practice skills are provided by the teacher, taking into account the varied skill
levels of all children in the group.

9. Developing Health-Related Fitness

Teachers convey the concept that lifelong fitness is a by-product of
participation in movement activities. To achieve fitness, young children only
need to be participating regularly in a wide variety of age-appropriate physical
activities.

10. Encouraging Individual and Free Expression

Teachers plan movement opportunities that allow children to express
themselves freely, ask questions, and challenge themselves to find solutions to
puzzling situations via the medium of movement. For example: “How can
you get the ball to the hula hoop?”

11. Teaching Rhythmic Experiences and Dance

Teachers encourage children to use their imaginations in a movement program
that includes a variety of rhythmic, expressive, creative, and culturally
appropriate dance experiences.

12. Teaching Tumbling

Teachers plan opportunities for exploration in the skill areas of balancing,
rolling, jumping/landing, climbing, as appropriate to age, ability, and
confidence levels of young children.

13. Teaching Games

Teachers reinforce planned objectives by selecting, designing, sequencing,
and modifying games to maximize children’s learning and enjoyment.

14. Integrating Movement Programs and Play

The total educational program includes daily indoor and outdoor movement
experiences planned and organized by teachers.

15. Scheduling Activity

Both structured learning experiences and free play are included in 30-60
minutes of daily developmentally appropriate physical activity of a moderate
nature.

16. Providing an Adequate and Safe Environment

The teaching environment is physically, psychologically, and acoustically safe
and offers a choice of equipment geared toward the children’s level of
competence. Equipment and activity choice allow for the development of
positive feelings, self-confidence, and self-worth.

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17. Limiting Class Size
Developmentally appropriate class size is limited to no more than nine to ten
children (age 4-5) assigned to one adult. Younger children require smaller
groups.

18. Facilitating Gender Equity

Both boys and girls in this age group should be given the same opportunities
to achieve success in all realms of movement activities. For the most part,
there is no gender difference in motor skill development at this age.

19. Fostering Parent-Teacher Communication

Teachers give information to parents about the importance of daily movement
experiences. Parents are given a variety of suggested movement activities that
can be employed at home to enhance a child’s development in all areas of
learning.

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Movement Content Areas

Movement programs for young children should include activities from the following
eight movement components:

• Locomotor Skills

• Object Control Skills

• Body Awareness

• Spatial Concepts

• Body Actions

• Rhythmic Activities

• Play Participation Skills

• Group Games

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Movement Component Description Chart

Movement Component Identification of Skills

Locomotor Skills Rolling, crawling, creeping, walking, marching, running, climbing,
jumping, hopping, galloping, skipping;

Ability to imitate animal movement actions: elephant, bear, cat, alligator,

dinosaur, frog, monkey, kangaroo, giraffe, snake, seal, bird, dog, rabbit,
lion, ducks.

Ability to move through obstacle courses (moving through a pre-planned

space that contains sequenced activity centers)

Tumbling (log roll, forward roll)

Object Control Skills Rolling, throwing, striking, catching, bouncing, dribbling, kicking balls of
different sizes and textures (nerf, plastic, cloth, rubber, vinyl, yarn,
newspaper).

Throwing and catching objects (scarves, bean bags)

Ability to move through an obstacle course

Body Awareness Ability to identify (touch and/or move) a specific body part: head, ear,
nose, eye, mouth, neck, back, chest, stomach, shoulder, elbow, arm wrist,
hand, finger, leg, knee ankle, toe; Examples:

“Show me your_____”
“Where is your ____?”
“Move your _____.”
“Move like I am moving (simple imitation).”
“Tell me where your ____ is.”
Spatial Concepts Ability to demonstrate concepts of: near-far, forward-backward, above-
below, up-down, over-under, slow-fast, loud-soft, apart-together, in-out,
around, through, between; Ability to move through an obstacle course.
Body Actions Ability to demonstrate moving without locomotion: turning, bending,
stretching, twisting, shaking, bouncing, and swaying.
Rhythmic Activities Ability to move body rhythmically to various tempos created by
instruments such as drums, tambourines, lummi sticks; or, by listening to
musical selections (children’s music, popular/ classical music) on radio,
tapes, or CD’s.
Play Participation Skills Climbing up/down stairs and ladder, swinging on swing or ropes, sliding
down slide, crawling through a tunnel, hanging with arms from a bar,
pulling an object, pushing an object, riding a tricycle, riding a scooter
board, moving about on a playground structure.
Group Games Ability to participate in structured activities performed with a small group
of children with few rules, no competition, and no elimination: parachute
play, musical hoops, “Clean Out your Backyard”, What Time Is It, Mr. /
Ms Fox”?

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Instructional Format
Young children need the security of a familiar routine and sequence during movement
activities in the gym. Try to keep the Opening, Warm-up Activities, and Closure/Cool
Down constant. Most of the movement experiences should be individual or small group,
child centered activities. Use both direct and indirect teaching methods.

Include equipment with a variety of shapes, colors, sizes, weights, textures for safe and
active participation. Offer activities with maximum participation. Do not include
elimination games. Have a balance between success and challenge activities. Provide
opportunities for practice and repetition of skills. Include safety reminders for children
and staff. Encourage expression, play, and fun!

1. Opening – Children sit down on floor markers such as polyspots, carpet

squares, or floor tape in either an organized or scattered formation.
2. Warm-up Activities – Movement activities and rhythmical activities
performed to music.
3. Movement Skill Development – (Activity/Lesson Focus) Include movement
activities from the Movement Content Areas:

• locomotor skills
• object control skills
• body awareness
• spatial concepts
• body actions
• rhythmic activities
• play participation skills
• group games

4. Closure/Cool Down - (Children return to opening formation)

• Children lie down on floor, close their eyes, and relax.

• Adult reviews movement activities experienced in lesson.
• Ask children to acknowledge, in some manner, if they had fun.
• Ask children which activity they enjoyed the most.
• Use positive comments when giving feedback.
• Participate in a closing song?
• Tell children: “We are all done”.

5. Dismissal -Dismiss in an organized fashion.

• “If your name is ____, line up at the door”

• “If your name is ____, you can tiptoe (or other locomotor pattern) to the
door.”
• “If you’re wearing the color red, line up at the door.”
• “If you are sitting on a yellow polyspot, please line up on the black floor line.”

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Appropriate Instructional Methods to Use When Teaching Movement
Activities to Young Children

The teacher should provide…

• developmentally appropriate movement experiences

• daily movement experiences
• a positive fun learning environment
• a safe environment
• boundaries (to indicate where children can and can not go)
• exploratory activities
• novelty in choice of activities/equipment
• routine (beginning/ending of class)
• activities involving maximum participation for all children (avoiding
elimination and competitive activities)
• activities that apply to multiple environments (homes/communities/schools)
• activities oriented to success and challenge
• opportunities for individual expression and creativity
• an integrated concept approach (using cognitive, social/emotional,
communication approaches)
• a child-centered approach to teaching (child initiated and adult facilitated)
• sensory experiences (learning through the senses)
• child’s choice of activity (occasionally)
• visual demonstrations with instruction
• enthusiasm, interest, and caring attitude when teaching
• praise, encouragement, and feedback to children

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Equipment Suggestions for Movement Education Programs
Listed below are some suggestions for equipment/materials that can be used to teach
preschool movement activities in each of the eight movement component areas. (See the
Resource section of this guide for a listing of the equipment suppliers.)

Locomotor Skills

• Boundary/destination markers (vinyl or plastic cones)

• tunnel (crawl)
• ladder (step over rungs when placed flat on floor/climb up)
• mats (jump/top/crawl)
• stairs (climb up/down)
• hula hoops (jump/hop/crawl)
• mini-trampoline (jump)
• jump rope (jump over rope/crawl under rope)
• hopscotch mat (crawl/hop/jump)

Object Control Skills

• balls (a variety of sizes and textures)

• velcro mitt/tennis ball
• hula hoops
• parachute
• scooterboards
• bean bags
• deck tennis rings
• Frisbees
• tether ball
• targets (variety of shapes/sizes)
• bowling pins

Body Awareness

• bean bags
• hula hoop
• scarves
• lummi sticks
• ribbon sticks
• polyspots

Spatial Concepts

• ladder
• hula hoops
• tunnel

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 • barrel
• jump rope
• mat (flat and inclined)
• balance beam
• bowling pins
• rebounder (mini trampoline)
• cones (markers)

Body Actions

• floor markers (i.e. polyspots, carpet squares, tape)

• hula hoops
• ribbon sticks
• scarves

Rhythmic Activities

• ribbon sticks
• scarves
• lummi sticks
• musical instruments (cymbals, drums, etc.)
• boom box/ CD Player
• CD’s, tapes

Play Participation Skills

• swings
• slides
• ladders
• push toys
• tricycles
• bicycles (training wheels)
• wagons
• balance beams (2x4 board)
• ramps

Group Games

• boundary/destination markers (vinyl or plastic cones)

• polyspots
• bean bags
• balls (a variety of sizes/shapes/textures/weights)
• mats
• hula hoops
• parachute
• scooterboards

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Movement Skills Curriculum Template
(This template is to be used as a resource for planning movement activities for young
children.)

Movement Component Area:

Movement Skill(s):

Description:

What Children will Experience:

Equipment/Materials:

Developmental Progression: (list)

14
How Can Adults Help:

Safety:

Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:

Communication:

Social/Emotional:

15
Sample Lessons from the
Eight Movement
Component Areas

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Movement Area: Locomotor Skills
Movement Skill: Jumping

Description:
A child will propel body in the air from both feet, followed by a brief flight in the air, and
a two foot landing.

What a Child Will Experience:

Jumping up, down, and over objects.

Materials/Equipment:

Objects to jump into/onto:

• Hoops
• Olympet rings
• Swimming pool
• Styrofoam peanuts
• Pile of leaves
• Sheets of packing bubble wrap

Objects to jump over:

• Lines on floor
• Ropes on floor
• Foam noodles
• Bean bags placed in a row
• Stuffed animals
• Small boxes
• Grooves/cracks in sidewalks and floor tiles

Objects to jump off:

• Folded mats
• Wedge mats
• Sturdy boxes
• Curbs
• Playground surfaces (i.e. side of sandbox or stairs)

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Developmental Progression:

• Jumping up off floor

• Jumping down from low object
• Jumping forward one time
• Jumping over low object
• Jumping in different directions (i.e. sideways, backwards)
• Jumping for distance
• Jumping forward many times

How Adults Can Help:

• Encourage bent knees on take-off and landing.

• Encourage a balanced landing with feet apart.
• Encourage use of arms to increase height and length of jump and to assist with
balanced landing.
• Use simple verbal cues such as “bend knees, swing arms, and jump”.
• Assist a child having difficulty by standing in front of the child, holding the
child’s hands, and guiding the child forward on the signal, “ready, set, jump.”

Safety:

• Provide soft surface to cushion landing.

• Vary height and distance of jump based on skill level of child.

Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:
• Learning Colors: Place “Twister” game’s vinyl mat on floor. Child
stands on jump box or mat. Have child jump off box and land on
specified color such as one foot on green and one on yellow.
• Learning Numbers: Place numbers 0-9 on the floor. Have child jump
on a specified sequence of numbers such as 2-4-5.

Communication:
• Learning directions (forward, backward, sideways)
• Learning new words (over, under, on, in, between)

Social/Emotional:
• Learning to Play “Leap Frog”

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Movement Area: Locomotor Skills
Movement Skill: Galloping

Description:
A child will step forward with lead foot followed by step with trailing foot, to a position
adjacent (or slightly behind) the lead foot (i.e. a galloping horse).

What a Child Will Experience:

Galloping at different speeds, in various pathways, to different auditory cues, and using
dominant and non-dominant foot leads.

Materials/Equipment:

• Drum: Beat a drum to facilitate an uneven rhythmic pattern.

• Music: Gallop to music.
• Horse-head stick: Children ride (place stick between legs when galloping).

Developmental Progression:

• Perform foot movements (step-behind) in slow motion.

• Gallop at slow speed in a straight pathway to music.
• Gallop at a fast speed in various pathways (i.e. circle, zig zag) or around
obstacles.
• Gallop with non-preferred foot in front.

How Adults Can Help:

• Hold hands with a child who is having difficulty and gallop with them.

Safety:

• Provide ample space for movement

Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:
• Galloping at different speeds, i.e. slow and fast

Communication:
• Working with a partner i.e. sharing horse-head stick
• Taking turns deciding where to gallop
“Let’s gallop to the door” “Let’s gallop to the windows”

Social/Emotional:
• Playing “Follow the Leader” when galloping around the play area

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Movement Area: Object Control
Movement Skill: Throwing

Description:
A child will propel objects through the air using forward motion of arm and hand.

What a Child Will Experience:

• Throwing objects of different sizes (big to small)

• Throwing objects of different shapes (round, flat)
• Throwing objects with different textures (yarn, foam, rubber)
• Throwing objects of different weights (light to heavy)
• Throwing objects different distances (short to long)
• Throwing overhand
• Throwing underhand

Materials/Equipment:

Examples of objects to throw:

• Bean bags • Tennis balls

• Crumbled paper balls • Stick-a-ball
• Yarn balls • Frisbees
• Beach balls • Deck tennis rings
• Nerf balls • Playground balls
• Whiffle balls • Basketballs

Developmental Progression:

• Sit and roll ball to partner.

• Stand and roll ball to partner.
• Throw small ball with one hand using elbow extension.
• Throw medium size ball with two hands.
• Throw at targets.
• Throw for distance.

How Adults Can Help:

• Encourage children to look at target or person when they are throwing.

• Use cue words such as “hand by ear” and “step throw”.
• Use objects such as yarn balls that don’t roll a long distance to ensure
increased practice time.
• Have children practice throwing to a target or to a wall to guarantee a steady,
dependable “partner”.
• Encourage children to say the name of partner before throwing objects to
them. This helps ensure that partner is ready and is paying attention.

20
Safety:

• Allow sufficient space so objects thrown will not hit breakable objects or will
not rebound in an unsafe manner.
• Use objects that accommodate the developmental skill level of the child. Use
softer balls or objects (i.e. nerf, yarn) for the less skilled child and higher
density balls/heavier balls (playground ball) for the higher skilled child.

Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:
• Learning to count (number of times child hits a target or throws a ball)
• Learning colors, shapes, and various sizes of targets
• Learning about speed (fast, slow)

Communication:
• Talking to a partner while playing catch
• Telling partner how you would like them to throw the ball (fast, slow,
rolled, bounced)

Social/Emotional:
• Taking turns throwing and catching objects with a friend

21
Movement Area: Object Control
Movement Skill: Catching

Description:
A child will use hands or an object (scoop, mitt) to stop and control a moving object.

What a Child Will Experience:

Catching a variety of objects of different sizes and shapes which have been thrown by
self or a partner.

Materials/Equipment:

Objects to catch:

• Balloons • Foam balls

• Balzac balls • Grab balls
• Punch balls • Gertie balls
• Beach balls • Playground balls
• Crumbled paper balls • Foam Frisbees
• Scarves • Foxtails
• Feathers • Flingsocks
• Bean bags/Beanie Babies • Geodesic balls

Catch objects in:

• Both hands
• One hand
• Velcro mitts
• Scoops
• Stick-a-ball mitts
• Loop ball mitts

Developmental Progression:

• Catch large rolled ball.

• Catch large suspended ball.
• Bounce and catch a large ball with two hands.
• Catch large ball that is bounced by another person.
• Catch large ball that is gently tossed from another person.
• Catch small rolled ball.
• Catch small suspended ball.
• Catch small ball that is gently tossed from another person.

22
How Adults Can Help:

• Encourage children to watch or visually focus on stationary or moving

objects.
• Use cue words such as “hands ready” or have children clap hands to help them
position hands correctly.
• To decrease the amount of time children retrieve objects in the play area,
position children close to walls to provide a natural backstop.
• Select equipment appropriate to the size and skill level of the child.
• Position the child facing the wall to decrease the amount of visual distraction.

Safety:

• For less skilled children, use lighter weight, softer, larger, slower moving
objects. For more highly skilled children use dense, heavier, and smaller
objects.
• Allow ample space for catching activities.

Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:
• Learning to count: Count the number of times children catch objects.

Communication:
• Talking to a friend while playing catch
• Learning to use cue words: “Ready?” “Catch”

Social/Emotional:
• Playing catch with one or more friends
• Taking turns: Choosing what type of objects to catch

23
Movement Area: Object Control
Movement Skill: Kicking

Description:
A child will contact or strike an object with foot.

What a Child Will Experience:

Kicking a variety of objects for accuracy and distance using both left and right feet.

Materials/Equipment:

Examples of objects to kick:

• Balloons/Punch Balls • Beach balls

• Jingle Balls (with bells inside) • Gertie balls
• Soap bubbles • Foam balls
• Crumbled paper balls • Playground balls

Examples of targets:

• Cardboard boxes • Cones (placed various distances)

• Buckets • Hoops (suspended or in hoop stands)
• Wastepaper baskets • Milk carton crates (placed on sides)
• Foam pins • Tunnels (made with mats)
• Bowling pins • Lightweight soft tetherballs

Developmental Progression:

• Kick large stationary ball

• Walk forward and kick stationary ball
• Kick slowly moving large ball
• Walk forward and kick slowly rolling ball
• Kick for accuracy
• Kick for distance
• Kick with non-preferred foot

How Adults Can Help:

• Encourage children to look at the object that will be kicked.

• Have children place non-kicking foot next to the object.
• Emphasize making contact with the object, not where the object will travel.
• Encourage children to kick the object forcefully so they practice moving,
kicking legs from back to front.

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 • Provide support by holding child’s hand or by allowing child to grasp a table,
a chair, the wall, or other stationary objects.

Safety:

• Allow sufficient space so objects kicked will not hit breakable objects or
rebound unsafely.
• Use balls that accommodate the developmental skill level of the child (softer
balls such as nerf balls and beach balls for the lesser skilled child and the
higher density playground balls and soccer balls for the higher skilled child.)

Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:
• Learning letters, colors, numbers, and shapes:

Attach letter, color, number, or shape to each target (foam pin,

soda bottle, etc). When the child kicks the object and it falls down,
the child identifies the letter, color, number, or shape on the target.

Child can kick green object into green targets, blue objects into
blue targets, etc.

• Learning to count. Ask child:

“How many attempts does it take to make the object fall down?”
“How many objects fell down?”

• Learning spatial concepts and directions

Kicking objects: forward, backward, sideways, over a suspended

rope, under a rope, through a hula hoop, into a container

Communication:
• Telling a partner: “It is your turn.” “Kick the ball to me.”
• Kicking objects: over suspended rope (1-2 feet off floor), under
suspended rope, through hula hoop, into a container

Social/Emotional:
• Learning to take turns
• Playing “Follow the Leader”

25
Movement Area: Body Awareness
Movement Skill: Identifying Body Parts

Description:
A child will indicate the ability to identify specific body parts such as head, ear, nose,
eye, mouth, neck, back, chest, stomach, shoulder, elbow, arm, wrist, hand, finger, leg,
knee, ankle, toe.

What a Child Will Experience:

• Locating various body parts on another person by pointing to specific body

part on that person
• Locating a variety of body parts on self by touch
• Locating specific body parts on self by movement
• Locating a specific body part on self by placing objects on the body part (bean
bag, small yarn ball, scarves)

Materials/Equipment:

• Bean bags
• Small yarn balls
• Scarves
• Small stuffed animals
• Pictures of boys, girls

Developmental Progression:
No specific progression of learning to identify body parts, but usually shoulders, ankles,
elbows, chest, and wrist are some of the more difficult body parts for young children to
learn. Young children most often learn to identify facial parts before any other part of the
body.

How Adults Can Help:

By using a variety of commands and questions to facilitate a verbal or physical response:

• Can you touch your knee?

• Can you move your feet?
• Put the bean bag on your toes.
• What is this (point to body part)?
• Touch your stomach.
• Put the scarf on your wrist.

Safety:
If a child has a disability and cannot move or point to specific body parts either on
himself or on others, the child can communicate his/her knowledge of specific body parts
verbally to the adult.

26
Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:
• Learning action words: point....; touch....; move....; find...;

Communication:
• Understanding an adult request and responding to it using either a
physical or a verbal response

Example: Adult: “This is my............? Child Response: “arm”.

Example: Adult: “Touch your nose.”
Child: Child touches nose by pointing to it with finger.

Social/Emotional:
• Interacting with other children during activity
• Listening
• Imitating others

27
Movement Area: Spatial Concepts
Movement Skill: Moving Through An Obstacle Course

Description:
A child will demonstrate the ability to move through a variety of pre-planned movement
activity centers at a preferred pace.
(See Appendix A for an Illustration of An Obstacle Course)

What a Child Will Experience:

• Crawling through a tunnel (or under a table)

• Climbing up a box or a sturdy object
• Jumping down from a box or a sturdy object
• Walking on a 4” - 6” wide board
• Rolling on a mat or carpet
• Jumping into hula hoops positioned flat on the floor

Materials/Equipment:

• Play tunnel (or table)

• Sturdy wooden boxes or a wedged mat
• Beam (2x 4’ or 2x 6” board which is approximately 8-10’ long)
• Hula hoops (jumping)
• Mat or carpet (rolling)
• Bell (ring when finished course)

Developmental Progression:
Place the movement equipment in a sequence that requires the child’s body to continually
go from a low to a high position and then back to a low position to require child to be
more active. Example: rolling on a mat, climbing up on sturdy box, jumping down from
the box, crawling through a tunnel, jumping into hula hoops, etc.

How Adults Can Help:

• Indicate starting line (floor tape or a plastic cone).

• Give verbal cue to start course: Ex: “Ready, set, go!”
• Demonstrate the movements before the child attempts the movements.
• Allow practice sessions at the activity areas and for transitions between the
sequenced areas to encourage success.
• Encourage child to attempt all movement activities.
• Give verbal cues, if necessary.
• Praise child when movement skills are attempted.
• Let child ring bell when s/he completes all activities in the obstacle course.
• Occasionally reverse the direction of the course.
• Use music (records, tapes, CD’s) to cue the starting and stopping of the
child’s movements through the course.

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Safety:

• Allow enough space between individual activities to avoid injuries.

• Stay within close proximity if the child is not independent on the course.
• Allow only one child on each piece of equipment at a time to avoid accidents.
• Monitor speed of children going through the course (remind them goal is to
complete the course, not to race through the course!)

Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:
• Learning action words: jump, crawl, climb, roll, walk
• Learning names of equipment in the obstacle course: tunnel, table,
box, beam, mat, hula hoops
• Learning where various body parts are located on self and others

Communication:
• Learning the words: down, up, through, over, on, into, climb, around,
circle, all done

Social/Emotional:
• Taking turns
• Following directions
• Listening

29
Movement Area: Body Actions
Movement Skill: Non-Locomotor Movements

Description:
A child will demonstrate the ability to move and control body in a variety of ways
without traveling in environment.

What a Child Will Experience:

• Bending • Swinging
• Stretching • Rocking
• Twisting • Shaking
• Turning • Balancing
• Curling • Learning to start and stop moving

Materials/Equipment:

• Allow adequate personal space for children to move in one place without
touching other children.
• Floor markers - carpet squares, poly spot floor markers, floor tape, or Velcro
strips on carpet forming a large circle or scattered formation to visually define
where the child’s “space” is located.
• Music from CD’s, tapes, records, CD/tape/record player.

Developmental Progression:

• Child imitates a non-locomotor movement that is suggested and demonstrated

by an adult.
• Child identifies and demonstrates to the group a new and different way to
move body when prompted by an adult.
• Child spontaneously creates and demonstrates a movement while staying in
personal space.

How Adults Can Help:

Group Warm-Up:
Integrate a variety of body actions into the warm-up activity for the day.
Demonstrate the actions listed by asking children to move their bodies to the
music using various actions.

• Stretching up high
• Bending and touching toes
• Swinging arms back and forth
• Stomping feet
• Turning around
• Shaking hands

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 • Twisting body from side to side (left to right)

Create Imaginative Play:

Pretend to move like an animal or object using one or more of these body
actions.

• Can you pretend to flap your arms and fly like a bird?
• Can you sway your body like a tree moving in the wind?
• Can you stretch your body like a cat?
• Can you rock forward & backward like a rocking horse?
• Can you rock side to side like a rocking horse?
• Can you make your body look really BIG? Really small?
• Can you move your arms like you’re swimming in the water?

Challenge children by asking questions to initiate body actions: Ask Children:

“Can you move your body _________?”

• Side to side
• Up and down
• High /low
• In a circle
• Fast/slow
• Gently/forcefully
• Forward/backward

Challenge children to think of different ways of moving.

“Can you think of another way we can move our body?”

Safety:
Allow adequate personal space for each child to move freely without touching other
children. The designated formation and space for each child should be clearly marked by
a visual marker such as poly spot floor markers, Velcro, carpet squares or floor tape.

Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:
• Listening, watching, and imitating adults and other children
• Understanding movement vocabulary and concept development
• Developing sense of imagination when pretending to move like an
animal or object
• Developing an awareness of what it feels like to move the body in a
variety of ways
• Motor planning
• Understanding of movement elements of quality, effort, force, and
relationship between body parts

31
Communication:
• Developing movement vocabulary
• Expressing how bodies are moving

Social/Emotional:
• Learning to create and demonstrate new body actions with peers

32
Movement Area: Rhythmic Activities
Movement Skill: Manipulating Ribbon Sticks

Description:
A child will demonstrate the ability to move a ribbon stick rhythmically by listening and
responding to music of varying rhythms and tempos.

What a Child Will Experience:

• Exploring rhythmic movement, following visual and verbal cues,

understanding spatial awareness, effort and body relationship concepts.
• Listening to a repeated musical pattern (or beat) and moving body to the
rhythm.
• Moving the ribbon stick(s) in a variety of ways:

Examples:
• Making circles in the air…
in front of the body
over the head (helicopter)
on the floor (tornado)
beside the body (ferris wheel)

• Making wavy motions like waves on the water

• Shaking ribbon very fast/slow
• Moving ribbon so it swirls and floats in the air
• Waving ribbon up high/down low
• Sweeping ribbon back and forth on the floor
• Swaying ribbon from side to side like a palm tree swaying in the wind
• Shaking ribbon behind/beside/in front of/below/above their bodies
• Making ribbon wiggle on the floor like a snake
• Moving ribbon side to side like a palm tree swaying in the wind
• Moving ribbon back and forth like wipers on the bus
• Turning ribbon and body in a circle

Materials/Equipment:

• Ribbon Sticks (scarves, pom poms, crepe paper streamers)

One for each child
• Musical Selection
Music with a constant, repetitive beat which is slow enough to allow
young children to get the feeling of the music
• Floor Markers (Use in a circle or a scattered formation)
• Carpet squares, polyspots, Velcro on carpeted floor

33
Developmental Progression:

• Without Music – adult demonstrates one movement and concept word at a

time and children imitate a variety of ways to move the ribbon stick. Keep
verbal cues short and simple.
• With Music – briefly listen to the music and identify fast or slow tempos.
Continue matching the movement of the ribbons to the tempo of the music.
• Stationary Position - child remains in personal space on the floor marker and
moves ribbon stick without touching other children in designated formation.
• While Moving - ask children how they would like to move to the music using
ribbon sticks.

How Adults Can Help:

• Offer children ideas and demonstrations to get them engaged in the activity
and to make them more comfortable with manipulating ribbon sticks.
• Encourage children to explore and create new ways to move with ribbon
sticks.
• Ask challenging questions to stimulate creative movements during “ribbon
stick play”.

Safety:
Provide adequate space for children to move ribbon sticks without touching other
children.

Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:
• Learning movement concepts and vocabulary
• Watching demonstrations
• Listening (to directions and music)

Communication:
• Verbally expressing body movements

Social/Emotional:
• Creating original movements with ribbon sticks
• Expressing feelings through movements

34
Movement Area: Play Skills
Movement Skill: Climbing and Sliding

Description:
A child will climb up/down stairs, platforms or rung ladders, seat self at top of a slide,
and slide down.

What a Child Will Experience:

• Climbing up platforms/stairs/rungs and climbing back down

• Seating self at the top of a slide, and sliding down independently

Materials/Equipment: (Any of the following)

• Free standing preschool rung climber/slide

• Free standing molded plastic cubes/stairs/slide
• Playground modules with slides (straight, curved, open or enclosed tunnel
slides of various widths and heights)

Developmental Progression:

• Climb up/down using hand holds on rails on a rung climber and turn body
toward rungs to back down--- stepping on one rung at a time.
• At top of slide sit down and extend legs (“feet first”), scoot seat forward and
while holding onto side rails let gravity bring the child down the slide (sitting
upright).
• Stop at the bottom of the slide and place both feet firmly on the ground before
standing up.

How Adults Can Help:

• Allow child to sit on adult’s lap to go down the slide (getting used to the
feeling of moving down while sitting upright).
• Have adult go down the slide first with child behind – child’s feet touching
adult’s back (adult controlling the speed).
• Assist child by first holding his/her waist the whole length down the slide and
later halfway down allowing child to finish independently.

Safety:

• Insist child slide with feet first (prevent head injury).

• Require child to sit and not allow standing on the slide.
• Provide enough space at the bottom for child to safely land.
• Do not allow child to climb up the slide when someone is sliding down.
• Provide soft cushioning at the bottom landing area (pea gravel, woodchip
carpet, sand, rubber shock-absorbent mat).

35
 • Avoid slides that have a steep incline with no side rails
• Avoid metal slides that get very hot in the sun.

Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:
• Counting the rungs or stairs climbed

Communication:
• Practicing language skills: Saying “ready, set, go”

Social/Emotional:
• Rolling balls (or stuffed animals) down the slide for a friend to catch at
the bottom of the slide
• Making a train: Two or more children slide down with feet touching
the child seated in front

36
Movement Area: Play Skills
Movement Skill: Pedaling a Wheeled Toy

Description:
A child will pedal a wheeled toy (i.e. tricycle).

What a Child Will Experience:

• Climbing into a seated position on wheeled toy

• Placing feet on pedals
• Starting pedaling motion and continue pedaling
• Steering left and right turns
• Stopping pedaling
• Getting off wheeled toy

Materials/Equipment:

• Tricycle, big wheel, pedal tractor, small two-wheeled bicycle (training

wheels), small two-wheeled bicycle (the size of the wheeled toy should be
appropriate for the child)
• Pedal adaptations: velcro straps (for children who cannot maintain foot
contact with pedals)
• Adapted tricycles: back rests, hip/chest security straps (seat belts) for children
who lack adequate trunk support to maintain an upright sitting position

Developmental Progression:

Tricycle:

• Climbing into sitting position

• Grasping handlebars and placing feet on pedals
• Alternating left and right foot pushing motion
• Pedaling in a continuous rhythm
• Steering left and right (wide turns and narrow turns)
• Stopping movement by slowing pace, putting feet on the ground.
• Climbing off the wheeled toy

Two-Wheel Bicycle With Training Wheels:

• Standing straddling bike frame or sitting on bike seat

• Grasping handlebars, placing foot on pedals and pushing downward while
other foot lifts off the ground and onto the pedal
• Pedaling in a continuous rhythm
• Steering left and right turns (first wide, then narrow)
• Stopping movement by slowing pace or pedaling backwards (coaster brakes)
or by putting foot on ground and climbing off

37
 Two–Wheeled Bicycle:

• Standing straddling bike frame

• Grasping handlebars, placing one foot on pedal and pushing downward while
the other foot lifts off the ground and onto the pedal
• Lifting body onto seat pedaling in a continuous rhythm
• Steering left and right wide turns (later narrow turns)
• Stopping movement by slowing pace or by pedaling backward (coaster
brakes); or, when weight is on the downward foot, lifting other foot off the
pedal and stepping onto the ground to get off

How Adults Can Help:

• Provide physical assist getting on/off, supporting bike in a steady position

• Provide initially a large open space without obstacles or need for turns
• Provide a gentle push start to assist first pedaling strokes or place tricycle/bike
on a gentle downward incline
• To help children understand the alternate push-pedal stroke, adults can
alternately give a gentle push on top of the child’s thigh alternating left and
right leg.
• Provide verbal cues such as “push” or “pedal” or “go feet go”
• Assist with turning handle bars left and right and touching feet to stop
pedaling motion
• Select a wheel toy appropriate for the size of the child

Safety:

• Check bike for loose nuts or bolts or sharp edges

• Encourage (on two-wheeled bikes) children to wear bike helmets
• Select a firm surface, yet one that is forgiving in case of a fall (i.e. hard-
packed dust vs. asphalt/cement)
• Some bikes come with attached pushing bars/sticks or you may wish to create
your own. This prevents adult back fatigue or injury from extensive bending.

Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:
• Learning directions (forward, backward, left, right); can make tape or
chalk pathways for children to follow
• Learning concepts of starting and stopping; can use music to indicate
commands
• Creating a “trike town”. Children pedal to gas station, tunnel, car
wash, repair shop, fast food store which are created with mats, cones,
streamers, and other gym equipment

38
Communication:
• Learning to wait in line to visit the stations in the “trike town”
• Learning to talk to people (other students) at the stations: car wash,
fast food store, gas station, etc.
• Learning to say “thank you” and “please” when stopping at various
stations in the “trike town”

Social/Emotional:
• Learning to take turns
• Learning to follow leader (around cones, through tunnels, etc.)

39
Movement Area: Play Skills
Movement Skill: Propelling a Scooterboard

Description:
A child will travel on a scooterboard.

What a Child Will Experience:

Traveling on a scooterboard in a sitting, kneeling, or prone lying position (tummy)
without falling off.

Materials/Equipment:

• Standard 12” x 12” gym scooterboards – safety handles preferred for

preschoolers.
• Use 16” x 16” gym scooterboards for larger children and adult facilitators.

Developmental Progression:

• Prone lying – push with hands on floor while feet alternately press against the
floor (in a “frog” position).
• Seated – grip safety handles (if available) or sides of scooterboard and use feet
to push/pull/propel scooterboard forward, backward, turn in circles.
• Kneeling – use hands to push/pull to move scooterboard forward, backward,
and spin/turn.

How Adults Can Help:

• Model, give verbal cues, physical assist (assist moving arms and/or legs).
• Use two gym scooterboards to support children who cannot lift legs or use
legs to propel when in prone position.
• Sitting: Adult sits on a scooterboard behind seated child on his/her
scooterboard to provide gentle nudges/pushes so child will move forward.
• Sitting: While facing the child, plant child’s feet together near his
scooterboard then assist child to extend legs while pushing to propel
scooterboard in backward direction.

Safety:

• Do not allow children to stand on scooterboards or ride like a skateboard.

• Provide adequate open space for children to move on scooterboards.

40
Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:
• Learning to follow directions: Riding scooterboards while music plays
and stopping movement when the music stops. Add sequencing/tasks
when the music stops (put hands on head, spin scooterboard around,
touch a cone, etc.)
• Following paths made by tape placed on the floor. Using
scooterboards as transportation for completing tasks: delivering mail
to a mailbox, carrying puzzle pieces (one at a time) to complete a
puzzle
• Creating a scooterboard obstacle course and incorporating concepts of
under, around, and through
• Learning spatial concepts (over, under, around, etc.)

Communication:
• Creating a “scootertown” play environment. Children can travel to a
grocery store, fast food store, car wash, through tunnels, over bridges,
to a repair shop etc. Children will need to talk to each other to request
pretend fast food, helping each other repair their cars, etc.
• Talking to other children/adults while creating a “scooterboard town”
• Talking to adults/students working at the various pretend stations
(request food at fast food place)

Social/Emotional:
• Playing “Follow the Leader”
• Playing tag games on scooterboards
• Pulling a partner on a scooterboard (partners can use jump ropes or
plastic tubing to pull each other)
• Creating a train of scooterboards: An adult pulls the first child who is
lying on tummy on scooterboard while the other scooterboard riders
(who are also lying on tummies on scooterboards) hold onto the ankles
of the child ahead of them.

41
Movement Area: Play Skills
Movement Skill: Swinging

Description:
A child will sit and maintain balance on a moving swing that has been either pushed or
pumped.

What a Child Will Experience:

• Sitting on a swing independently

• Maintaining balance while being pushed
• Creating/beginning a swinging motion
• Pumping the swing for continuous movement

Materials/Equipment:

• Swings (variations i.e. belt, bucket, tire, chair)

Developmental Progression:

• Sitting on the swing independently, holding onto ropes, lifting feet off the
ground and maintaining balance and grasp while being pushed (begin low and
increase height of push)
• Touching feet to ground and walking feet backward on tiptoes, then lifting
feet so swing propels forward
• Pumping: extending legs forward while leaning backward as swing goes
forward; Bending knees bringing heels toward seat as swing glides backward
working to maintain a smooth pumping and swinging rhythm

How Adults Can Help:

• Have child sit on adults’ lap to feel the motion of leaning forward and
backward
• Give verbal cues and physical assistance—move child’s legs “out and back”
(bend knees with heels moving toward seat)
• Practice the “legs out/legs back” (pump) while the swing remains stationary
• Instruct to “toe walk” the swing while seated to make the swing move
• Stand in front of swing and hold hands (adults) out for child to touch with feet
while legs are extended forward (“touch the sun or stars” with your feet)

Safety:

• If child is seated on adult lap, adult should have a secure hold on the child.
• Make sure that there is enough space in front of/behind the path of the swing
so that the swing does not bump anyone.

42
 • Provide safe ground covering (sand, pea gravel, woodchip carpet, absorbent
rubber matting under the swing)
• Check if swing rope/chair is sturdy and secure
• Adjust seat to height that child’s tiptoes touch ground

Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:
• Learning concepts of high/low

Communication:
• Learning to create/repeat rhymes while swinging

Social/Emotional:
• Learning to help a friend (pushing a friend who is sitting on swing)

43
Movement Area: Play Skills
Movement Skill: Pulling a Wagon or Toy

Description:
A child will pull a wagon/toy while walking forward or backward.

What a Child Will Experience:

• Pulling a light or heavy object that rolls on wheels while walking backward
and forward
• Making turns and weaving around obstacles while pulling an object

Materials/Equipment:

• Lightweight wheeled toy

• Larger, heavier wheeled toy (i.e., wagon)
• Long rope (to pull toy)

Developmental progression:

• Pulling while walking backward: Have the child face the object, grasp the
wagon/toy handle (or cord) and take 1-2 steps backward; increase steps until
walking in a continuous pattern while pulling the object;
• Pulling while walking forward: Grasp the object handle (or cord) with hand
and face away from it; walk forward pulling the object (arm extends backward
toward the object);
• Pulling wagon/toy by handle/cord through an obstacle course without
bumping the objects in the course

How Adults Can Help:

• Demonstrate/model pulling wagons/toys and provide simple verbal cues.

• Provide hand-over-hand physical assist on the handle/cord.
• Play “Follow the Leader”: Adult pulls wagon/toy and child follows pulling
wagon/toy

Safety:

• Provide a large space for maneuvering the object being pulled.

• Provide a smooth surface (less chance of falling).
• Check objects for loose handles, secure wheels, and sturdy ropes/cords

Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:
• Learning to follow directions when pulling wagon or toys

44
 • Learning to pull wagon or toy through an obstacle course or path

Communication:
• Talking to friends during theme play: pretending to go shopping at a
grocery store, transporting supplies to build a house, giving animals a
ride, etc. Ask Child: “Where are you taking the Teddy Bear?”, “What
are you going to buy at the store?”

Social/Emotional:
• Taking turns (pulling and riding in wheeled toys)

45
Movement Area: Group Games
Movement Skill: Movement Skills Vary With Individual Games
(Can target one or more movement components)

Description:
Children will participate in group games that may be either adult directed or child
directed.

What a Child Will Experience:

• Participating in group games which have few rules and no

competition/elimination
• Using imaginations
• Developing movement skills and knowledge of various movements:
Locomotor skills, object control skills, body awareness, spatial concepts, body
action skills, rhythmical skills, play skills

Materials/Equipment (Varies with Individual Games):

Simple objects/equipment, or none needed.

Developmental Progression:

• Begin with a partner, expand to a small group of 3-6 children and then to a
larger group (i.e. preschool class).
• Begin with a simple stimulus/response game (i.e. move and stop with
locomotor patterns to music) and progress to a game with multiple steps or
concepts (i.e. tag games, “Clean Out Your Backyard”).

Characteristics of Well-Selected Games:

(Adapted from: Torbet, M. and Schneider, L.B. (1993) Follow Me Too. A Handbook of
Movement Activities for Three to Five Year Olds. New York: Addison Wesley
Publishing)

• Children have many turns where they can experiment continuously.

• Accommodation for a broad range of skills allowing progressive challenges.
• Instructions are clear, consistent, and attainable.
• Feedback is positive, immediate and frequent.
• It takes time and experiences to learn a game. Part of “natural learning” is
making mistakes.
• The format of the game allows children to develop perseverance and coping
skills.
• The components of the game enhance positive social interactions.
• Maximum participation vs. elimination is promoted.

46
Examples of Preschool Games:

• Non-elimination musical hoops • Car and Driver *1

(similar to “Islands” *1) • Cross Over *1
• Non-elimination tag games • Freeze *1
• Clean Out Your Backyard • Jet Pilots *2
• Follow the Leader • Cross the River *2
• What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? • Beach Ball Push *2
(also called “Midnight”) • Keep It Up *2
• Help Your Neighbor
• Red Light, Green Light
• Busy Bee and Back to Back *1
• Body Built Letters, Numbers, and Shapes

*See footnotes on following pages

Examples of Parachute Games:

• Ripples and Waves • Changing Places

• Mountains • Popcorn
• Umbrellas • Bubble Bath
• Pop Goes the Weasel • Roller Ball
• Merry Go Round

How Adults Can Help:

• Keep the game simple (i.e. reduce the amount of equipment, let completion be
the goal, not speed).
• Model and use visual aids (pictures etc.) to show children what to do. Break
down the game into sections that can be put together as children learn.
• Use the same game over many play periods. Children love repetition.
• Be available to redirect/reinforce information (verbal cues, physical assist).
• Everyone is a winner/focus on success.

Safety:

• Have ample space for size of group and activity.

• Use only equipment that is developmentally appropriate.
• Remove any obstacles in the playing area and check the ground floor surface
for holes or for uneven surfaces that could cause a fall.

47
Integrated Concepts:

Cognitive:
• Understanding defined boundaries (marked and unmarked)
• Listening and following directions – sometimes multi-step
• Increasing attention span
• Developing problem-solving skills/generating alternatives

Communication:
• Giving verbal encouragement to friends: Examples might include
saying “thank you”, giving a high-five, or sharing positive comments
such as “I like this game” or “We did our best”.

Social/Emotional:
• Sharing equipment
• Taking turns
• Developing self-control
• Trusting peers
• Making contributions to groups
• Taking leadership role
• Taking initiative
• Trying new activities
• Building self-esteem

*1.
Torbet, Marianne and Lynn B. Schneider (1993) Follow Me Too A Handbook of
Movement Activities for Three to Five Year Olds. New York, N.Y.: Addison Wesley
Publishing.
*2.
Wessel, Janet A. and Laurice L. Zittel (1995) Smart Start, Preschool Movement
Curriculum Designed for Children of All Abilities. (1995) Austin, TX: Pro Ed.

48
Evaluation

Evaluating the Movement Skills and Abilities of Young Children

Formal and informal evaluations can be used to evaluate a young child’s movement skills
and abilities.

Formal Evaluations use standardized test instruments. The information learned from a
formal evaluation is valuable as it compares the child’s overall performance to the
performance of other children the same age. Standardized tools are often used for initial
special education evaluations to determine if a child meets criteria for one of the special
education categories. (See Appendix F (Special Education Laws) for Early Childhood
Special Education Eligibility Criteria and for the Developmental Adapted Physical
Education Eligibility Criteria)

Some disadvantages of formal evaluations are that they are most often not administered
in a natural environment, they are usually not administered by adults familiar with the
child, and they do not always measure skills that are functional and that relate to the
child’s needs in the real world activities.

Informal Evaluations do not use standardized test instruments, but use other instruments,
tools, and procedures to gather information about what the child already knows, what the
child is learning, and what the child needs to learn. Some methods and procedures used
for informal evaluations are: systematic observations, parent interviews, review of
records, developmental/skill checklists and videotaping. Informal evaluation methods
and procedures are used in both regular education and special education to supplement
the more formal standardized evaluation tools. Informal evaluation procedures, such as
developmental checklists and systematic observations, are also routinely used to
determine if a child is making progress with educational goals.

Informal evaluation is valuable because it considers the total development of the child, it
is most often administered in the child’s natural environment by adults familiar to the
child, and it allows adults to get a more realistic picture of what skills the child has now
and what skills the child will need to learn in the future to become more independent in
home, school, and community environments.

(See Appendix C and Appendix D for examples of Informal Evaluation tools)

(See Appendix E for listing of Tools for Evaluating Young Children)

Evaluating Movement Education Programs

The effectiveness of a Movement Education Program should be evaluated periodically to
determine if the movement skills being taught to the children are the skills they need to
learn; and, if the children are learning the movement skills being taught.

The Ongoing Cycle of Movement Education Program Evaluation should include the
following:

49
 • Evaluating the children’s movement skills to determine what skills they need
to learn
• Planning movement activities to assist children in learning the movement
skills
• Teaching the children the movement skills they need to learn
• Evaluating the students and the Movement Education Program to determine if
it is an effective one

National Physical Education Standards / Kindergarten Benchmarks /

Preschool Movement Curriculum Outcomes

In 1992, the Council on Physical Education for Children (COPEC), a division of NASPE,
created a document entitled “Developmentally Appropriate Physical Education Practices
for Children” which focuses primarily on elementary physical education. In 1994,
COPEC created and published another document entitled “Developmentally Appropriate
Practice in Movement Programs for Young Children Ages 3-5.” This latest COPEC
document supports the beliefs that early childhood movement programs should be
developed with the preschool child’s needs and interests in mind rather than extending
the elementary physical education curriculum down to the early childhood setting. In
1995, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) developed
national standards in the area of physical education to promote appropriate physical
education practices for students in kindergarten through grade twelve.

Listed below are the national physical education standards and the recommended
kindergarten benchmarks as written in NASPE’s National Physical Education Standards
(NASPE 1995). Immediately following the kindergarten benchmarks are examples of
possible early childhood /preschool movement curriculum outcomes which reflect the
basic premises for movement programs for young children as stated in the 1994 COPEC
document, “Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Movement Programs for Young
Children Ages 3-5.”

Standard 1. Demonstrates Competency in Many Movement Forms and

Proficiency in a Few Movement Forms

Kindergarten Sample Benchmarks

• Travels in forward and sideways directions using a variety of
locomotor patterns and changes in direction quickly in response to a
signal.
• Demonstrates clear contrast between slow and fast movements while
traveling;
• Walk and runs using mature form;
• Rolls sideways without hesitating or stopping;
• Tosses a ball and catches it before it bounces twice;
• Kicks a stations ball using a smooth continuous running step;

50
 • Maintains momentary stillness bearing weight on a variety of body
parts.

Examples of Possible Early Childhood Movement Curriculum Outcomes

The preschool movement curriculum should provide activities that:

• Allow the child to explore and develop a variety of locomotor and

non-locomotor patterns (particularly walk, run, stretch, and bend);
• Encourage walking and running and modifications of these skills;
• Require throwing, catching, striking, and kicking of objects of various
sizes and shapes;
• Enhance static and dynamic balance;
• Reinforce stopping and starting signals.

Standard 2. Applies Movement Concepts and Principles to the Learning and

Development of Motor Skills

Kindergarten Sample Benchmarks

• walks, runs, hops and skips in forward and sideways directions and
changes direction quickly in response to a signal;
• Identifies and uses a variety of relationships with object (e.g.,
over/under, behind, alongside, through);
• Identifies and begins to utilize the technique employed (leg flexion) to
soften the landing in jumping.

Examples of Possible Early Childhood Movement Curriculum Outcomes

The preschool movement curriculum should allow the children to:

• Explore traveling in different directions;

• Be exposed to a variety spatial relationships (e.g. on/off, under/over,
and concepts (e.g. personal/general space);
• Experiment with a variety of locomotor, non-locomotor and
manipulative patterns.

Standard 3. Exhibits a Physically Active Lifestyle

Kindergarten Sample Benchmarks

• Participates regularly in vigorous physical activity;
• Recognizes that physical activity is good for personal well-being;
• Identifies feelings that result from participation in physical activities.

Examples of Early Childhood Movement Curriculum Outcomes

The preschool movement curriculum should provide activities that:

51
 • By their very nature are vigorous;
• Seize “teachable moments” that allow the children to know why
vigorous movement is beneficial and positive feedback given for being
vigorous;
• Encourage the use of many large muscle groups. This area should be
used during both structured and non-structured times (but always with
adult supervision!).

Standard 4. Achieves and Maintains a Health-Enhancing Level of Physical Fitness

Kindergarten Sample Benchmarks

• Sustains moderate to vigorous physical activity;
• Is aware of his or her heart beating fast during physical activity.

Examples of Early Childhood Movement Curriculum Outcomes

The preschool movement curriculum should provide activities that:

• Require the children to use their large muscle groups (arms, legs,
trunk) while repeating a movement pattern a series of times;
• Discuss the location and “characteristics” of the heart (e.g. function,
size and rate) and lungs (e.g. function, size and action).

Standard 5. Demonstrates Responsible, Personal, and Social Behavior in Physical

Activity Settings

Kindergarten Sample Benchmarks

• Knows the rules for participating in the gymnasium and on the

playground;
• Works in a group setting without interfering with others;
• Responds to teacher signals for attention;
• Responds to rule infractions when reminded once;
• Follows directions given to the class for an all-class activity;
• Handles equipment safely by putting it away when not in use;
• Takes turns when using a piece of equipment;
• Transfer rules of the gym to “rules of the playground.”

Examples of Early Childhood Movement Curriculum Outcomes

The preschool movement curriculum should provide activities that:

• Allow the child to practice appropriate social skills (e.g. sharing,

courtesy, honesty);
• Allow practice at putting away manipulatives and apparatus;

52
 • Enhance listening skills and the sequencing of directions.

Standard 6. Demonstrates Understanding and Respect for Differences Among

People in Physical Activity Settings

Kindergarten Sample Benchmarks

• Enjoys participation along and with others;
• Chooses playmates without regard to personal differences (e.g. race,
gender, disability).

Examples of Early Childhood Movement Curriculum Outcomes

The preschool movement curriculum should provide activities that:

• Afford opportunities for playing alone and with groups of varying

sizes;
• Encourage interacting with a variety of classmates.

Standard 7. Understands That Physical Activity Provides the Opportunity for

Enjoyment, Challenge, Self-Expression, and Social Interaction

Kindergarten Sample Benchmarks

• Enjoys participation alone and with others;
• Identifies feelings that result from participation in physical activities;
• Looks forward to physical education classes;

Examples of Early Childhood Movement Curriculum Outcomes

The preschool movement curriculum should provide activities that:

• Are safe, fun, and exciting;

• Create an environment conducive to learning in which children feel
accepted, success is anticipated, and failure is not feared.

Rip Marston’s article in Teaching Elementary Physical Education, (September 2001)

from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, National Physical
Education Standards (NASPE 1995) and the Council on Physical Education for Children
(COPEC 1994), “Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Movement Programs for
Young Children Ages 3-5”

53
Modifying Movement Experiences for Young Children
Modifying movement experiences involves changing some aspect of an activity to make
it accessible and beneficial to all children. Modifications allow children, including those
with disabilities, to participate in movement experiences in a safe and challenging setting
that affords opportunities for success. It is important for a movement facilitator to
understand the general process of creating and implementing modifications and applying
them to a variety of situations. A practical systematic approach of planning,
implementing, and evaluating movement programs is recommended.

Today, young children enrolled in various early childhood programs have diverse needs
and abilities. There is a broad range of development which is considered to be age-
appropriate. However, if children have disabilities, they may have an atypical delay in
cognitive, social/emotional, physical, or sensory development. Personnel working in
early childhood programs, parents, and caregivers are continually challenged to plan for
safe and meaningful movement programs for all children in a variety of environments.
There is no “cookbook” of directions for how to modify movement experiences.
Modification of movement activities for children involves using specific approaches to
modifications, modifying the curriculum, changing the play environment, selecting
proper equipment, including children with disabilities, and periodically evaluating the
modifications.

Approaches to Modifications
To successfully modify movement experiences, the adult should have an understanding
of how children learn movement skills. This includes having knowledge of movement
activities, movement skill components, task analysis, and of the developmental
progression of movement skills.

Skill Components
Children develop skills in the movement areas of locomotion, object control, body
awareness, spatial concepts, body actions, rhythmic activities, play participation, and
group games by participating in a variety of movement activities. An understanding of
the movement skill components will assist adults in planning and modifying movement
activities for all children. For example: Children having difficulty with balance may need
the assistance of their hands, an adult's hands, or a structure (rail/wall) for support when
performing balance activities. When structuring movement activities for children with a
high level of balance development, the adult should include movement experiences that
will challenge the child’s balancing abilities. One way to do this would be to limit the
child's base of support i.e. ask the child to balance on one leg, ask the child to stand on
one leg with eyes closed, ask the child to stand on a balance beam with only one leg.

Task Analysis
Task analysis is the process of breaking a skill down into its components. The
components are usually sequenced and taught from simple to complex. The use of task
analysis requires the adult to identify important sub-skills within a motor experience to
determine which part of the skill is difficult for the child. The facilitator then develops a

54
plan to assist the child in performing the task. For example, a task analysis for walking
up steps would include: standing at the bottom of the steps, grasping the handrail, lifting
one foot to the first step, putting weight on the foot, lifting the other foot to the second
step, and putting weight on that foot. If the child is able to perform the first two
components of the skill (standing at the bottom of the steps and grasping the hand rail),
but has difficulty with the third part (lifting one foot to the first step), the adult should
focus on helping the child improve balance and upper leg strength to enable the child to
complete the third part of the movement sequence.

Developmental Progression
In general, children’s motor patterns and skills progress through a series of steps or
stages. The development of various skills is, for the most part, sequential and builds
upon previously learned skills. Understanding the developmental progression for various
skills is helpful in making an activity easier or more challenging for a particular child.
For example, if the adult is presenting opportunities for children to practice catching
objects, various teaching approaches should be used. Children at the beginning
developmental stage can benefit from catching rolled balls. Other children’s needs may
be best met by catching suspended objects that are swinging in an arc. More highly
skilled children’s catching skills can be challenged by trying to catch objects that are not
thrown directly to them, but are thrown to the left and right sides of their bodies.

55
Modifying Curriculum
The movement curriculum for young children should provide movement experiences in
the areas of locomotion, object control, body awareness, spatial concepts, body actions,
rhythmic activities, play participation, and group games. The curriculum can be modified
for children who are having difficulty and enrichment activities provided for highly
skilled children. The following table includes examples of modifying movement
components and skills.

Movement Component Movement Skill Modification of Activity Enrichment Activity

Locomotor Skills Jumping Assisting a child by holding Combining different
hands and giving verbal movement components
cues, such as “bend knees”, when jumping i.e. jumping
“swing arms”, and “jump.” off a high object, jumping
and turning, jumping and
landing in a hoop.
Object Control Skills Catching Providing hand-over-hand Throwing a small ball at
assistance to child catching wall and catching it on the
a ball. rebound.
Body Awareness Identifying Body Playing “Copy Cat”. Adult Using activities/challenges
Parts touches head and says, involving body
“This is my head”. Child identification, body actions
imitates actions. and cognitive skills, such
as; “If you have the color
blue on your shirt, shake
your arm.”
Spatial Concepts Moving Through Following an adult or peer Designing, demonstrating,
an Obstacle through an obstacle course. and telling other children
Course how to move through an
obstacle course.
Body Actions Imitating Body Imitating movements Demonstrating a sequence
Movements repetitively i.e. bending, of movements such as
stretching. bending knees, stretching
arms, turning around.
Rhythmic Activities Manipulating Imitating movements with Designing and
Ribbon Sticks rhythm sticks. demonstrating a sequence
of 2-4 movements with
ribbon sticks
Play Skills Pedaling a Assisting child by using a Pedaling a wheeled toy
Wheeled push-pull bar attached to following commands i.e.
Toy wheeled toy. “stop”, “ride around the
cone”.
Group Games Playing Parachute Providing hand-over-hand Shaking parachute with
Game (“Popcorn”) assistance while shaking one hand or both hands.
parachute. Shaking parachute at fast
and slow speeds. Shaking
parachute held at various
heights.

56
Changing the Play Environment

Play Area
Major changes to an instructional setting cannot usually be made, but there are a number
of things that can be done to accommodate students with special needs. Boundaries of
the play area can be reduced for children with limited mobility. The play area can also be
marked with cones or brightly colored tape for children with visual impairment or those
needing well-defined boundaries.

Space
Hula hoops, mats, or polyspots can be used as floor markers for children who have
difficulty maintaining personal space. During locomotor movements, a hula hoop held
by the child at waist level may become their “bubblemobile” to help them define their
personal space and prevent collisions with other children or with walls.

Distance
Distance is generally an easy element to modify. A basketball net or other target can be
raised or lowered, children can stand closer to the target, and the distance a child travels
during an activity can be shortened or lengthened.

Selecting Equipment
An understanding of child development helps the movement facilitator select equipment
that will be the most beneficial for preschool children. Important considerations when
selecting age appropriate equipment are: size, weight, color, and texture.

Size
Large targets and large striking implements (bats, racquets, balls, large-wheeled scooters)
are helpful in promoting success in movement activities.

Weight
Light weight equipment such as plastic bats, lollipop racquets, and nerf balls are easier
for preschool children to manipulate.

Color
Brightly colored equipment promotes visual tracking skills. It is usually most beneficial
to select equipment which is of a contrasting color to the play environment.

Texture
Most equipment is available in a variety of textures. Foam or Nerf material make it easier
to engage young children in activity because equipment moves a little slower and is soft
if it hits the child’s body. Using equipment with a variety of textures invites children to
grasp and manipulate objects in new and exciting ways. Foam balls, Nerf balls, koosh
balls, whiffle balls, bean bags, punch balls, beach balls, yarn balls, gripper balls (gripper
patches), catchballs, gertie balls (tacky surface), bumpballs (bumpy knobs and tacky
texture), squellet balls (colorful beads inside), geodesic (rope balls), and spider balls all
provide a range of possibilities when modifying ball activities for young children.

57
Including Children with Disabilities
Some children who attend early childhood programs have disabilities such as autism
spectrum disorders, emotional/behavioral disabilities, physical impairments,
developmental cognitive disabilities, or other health related disabilities. The range of
effect the disability has on the development of large motor skills varies within each
disability from mild to severe. Each child is unique. It is important to focus on the
functional skills of the child rather than on the child’s disability. Instructional
modifications such as giving verbal cues, using visual cues, demonstrating or modeling
an activity, providing physical assistance or guidance, and Brailling (allowing the child to
feel a peer or an adult performing a movement) are beneficial for children with or without
disabilities.

Evaluating Modifications
Suggestions for modifying and evaluating the effectiveness of large motor activities is an
on-going process. Considerations suggested by Martin Block in his book A Teacher’s
Guide to Including Students with Disabilities in Regular Physical Education include:

1. Are activities modified only as much as necessary to afford success while

promoting challenge?
2. Is the modification safe for all children?
3. Does the modification affect other children in a negative way?
4. Is the modification difficult to implement?

When used properly, modifications enhance the learning of all children. Success and
challenge are continually balanced. By modifying large motor activities, adults not only
enhance learning, but are also positive role models in respecting and accepting the
uniqueness of each individual.

58
Expanded Movement Opportunities
Our feelings and connections about movement and our bodies begin very early in life.
Opportunities for integrating movement into the lives of young children can be found in
homes, neighborhoods, and communities. Encouraging young child to participate in
simple and enjoyable physical activities daily can be the beginning of an active lifestyle
that benefits the whole family. This section will provide families with activity ideas that
are simple, inexpensive and fun!

(See Resource Section in this guide for a list of books containing details on appropriate
activities and games for play at home.)

Indoor Play

1. Ball Play
• rolling, throwing, bouncing, catching, kicking, hitting, striking
• playing Nerf basketball (i.e. Fisher Price or Little Tikes)
• throwing, ball overhand/underhand to partner
• bouncing ball to partner
• bouncing ball to self
• rolling/bowling ball at objects (i.e. empty plastic soda bottle)
• striking beach ball

2. Locomotor Play
“Can you…”
• Crawl like a snake to the dining room?
• March with your knees up high to the bathroom?
• Gallop like a horse to the kitchen?
• Walk with tiny little steps?
• Walk with HUGE dinosaur steps?
• Hop on one foot like a bunny to the family room?
• Tiptoe quietly like a mouse (shhhh) to the kitchen?
• Jump like a kangaroo to your room?

3. Tumble Play (on padded carpet)

• perform a forward roll (somersault)
• perform a log rolling to the (to left/ to right)
• Leap frog

4. Hoppity Hop Play

Commercially available ball with a handle. Child sits on the ball and
grasps handle. Child can bounce up/down/forward on ball while trying to
maintain upright position.

Pretend your hoppity hop is a horse! What is your horse’s name? Let’s

59
 take our horse out to the pasture for a ride! Giddyup horse! Wh-o-o-a!!

5. Hopscotch Play
Use tape to mark square sections on hard floors or Velcro on carpeted
floors.

6. Dancing to Favorite Music!

How many different ways can you move your body? Can you: twist, shake
your hips, bend your knees, shake your foot, shake your head, pretend to
swim, march with your knees up high, clap your hands, hop on one foot,
jump up and down, turn around, reach up high, reach down low.

Can you think of another way to move your body? Let yourself have fun!
(Refer to Resource Section for Early Childhood’s Greatest Musical Hits!)

7. Playing “Musical Chairs” (use washcloths/paper towels on floor)

Children walk around the outside of the circle formed by washcloths.
Each child should have one washcloth. Children sit down on the
washcloth when the music stops! No elimination of players…everyone is
included in the activity. Vary the locomotor pattern by having the
children jump, gallop, hop, or skip around the circle.

8. Skating
Use paper plates, shoe boxes, tissue boxes, or paper bags for pretend
skates. Step on one plate with each foot and push and slide plates (skates)
around the floor. Can skate on tile, concrete, or carpet. If a child is
having difficulty keeping feet on the paper plates, boxes, or bags, a strip of
masking tape can be applied over the top of the shoe to attach it to the
pretend skates.

Skating to Music
Can you skate: backward? Forward? in a big circle?

9. Creative Play
• Make a tunnel, fort, teepee, igloo, or cave from an empty appliance
box or blanket draped between two pieces of furniture.

Imitate animal actions:

“Can you make your body move like a…”
• frog • elephant
• kangaroo • crab
• horse • dinosaur
• rabbit • snake
• duck • bear
• seal • bird

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 10. Bubble Play
With bubble solution and wands, blow bubbles and try to…
• hit it
• pop it with your finger, knee, foot
• step on it
• jump over it
• smash it with both hands
• catch it

Adult can hold the bubble wand in front of a fan to create a room full of
bubbles for several children playing!

(See Outdoor Play section for Bubble Solution Recipe and for more ideas
on Bubble Play)

11. Imitate animal movements.

Can you move your body like a: bear, seal, snake, duck, crab, elephant,
rabbit, horse, frog?

12. *Balloon Play

Balloon play can be a creative and fun way for a child to experience
manipulating a moving object. The slower moving speed means more time
for a child to react and more success in controlling the balloon. This
means it can be an effective tool in learning pre-ball skills. Experience in
catching a balloon can assist a child who is unsuccessful at catching a ball.

• Can you catch, hit, bat, kick the balloon?

• Can you tap the balloon with your: knee, elbow, leg, finger, head,
foot?
• Can you: jump over it, go under it, hit it fast, hit it slow, hit it up high,
down low?
• Count how many times you can hit your balloon before it touches the
floor!

Play balloon volleyball using a string taped to two walls to act as the net.

Play balloon tetherball: Attach a string to balloon and secure the other end
of the string to the ceiling. Push, hit, tap, and catch the tetherball.

*Close adult supervision is required when using balloons due to the choking hazard
resulting from children inserting deflated or broken balloon pieces into their mouths.
Never use balloons with children who have a latex allergy. Balloons, inflated or deflated,
should be stored out of the reach of children.

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Outdoor Play

1. Ride a trike or bike

2. Ride a scooter
3. Pull a wagon
4. Rollerskate
5. Tumble on the grass (forward roll/somersault)
6. Log roll on grass (right/left, up/down a gentle slope)
7. Yard Play – move across the yard by:
• walking (forward/backward)
• running (forward/backward)
• hopping
• galloping
• sliding
• skipping

8. Play “Leap Frog”

9. Gunny Sack Play
10. Wheelbarrow Play
11. Play Group Games:
• “Hide and Seek”
• Tag games
• “Clean Up Your Backyard”
• “Red Light, Green Light”
• “Captain, May I?”
• “Midnight” (“What Time is it Mr. / Mrs. Fox?”)
• “Fox and Goose”
• Hopscotch (with or without points)
• Tug of War

(See Appendix B for descriptions of Selected Group Games)

12. Hula Hoop Play

• Twist, twirl, jump in/out of hoop on ground, roll it
• play “Musical Hoops”
• twirl/swing hoop around your: waist, wrist, arm, neck, leg
• roll hoop to a friend
• roll hoop and run beside it
• roll it with a backspin so it returns to roller

13. Jump rope

14. Hoppity Hop Play
15. Bubble Play
”Can you…”
• Squish the bubble with both hands?
• Pop it with one finger?

62
 • Kick the bubble?
• Pop it with your knee
• Jump over the bubble?
• Chase the bubble?
• Reach up and grab the bubble?

Homemade Bubble Makers may include:

• Paper or foam cup with bottom cut out. Place bottom opening in
solution and blow bubble through top opening.
• Plastic holder from a six-pack of soda cans. Attach the entire six-pack
holder to a wooden craft stick with duct tape. Insert plastic holder in
the bubble solution. Then hold it up into the wind while moving your
hand to create many bubbles.

Homemade bubble solution recipe:

½ cup Joy or Dawn dishwashing liquid

4 ½ cups water
4 tablespoons glycerin (available at drug stores)
Gently stir the mixture together.

16. Water Balloon Play

• Throw balloon up in the air and catch it.
• Throw balloon higher and higher.
• Throw and catch water balloon with friend. (Start with thrower and
catcher close together and gradually increase the distance for a
challenge!)

17. Water Balloon Basketball

• Use a low goal, such as Fischer Price/Little Tykes, or use a large box
or a garbage or laundry basket as the goal.

18. Water Sponge Play

• Dunk sponge ball in water and throw to a friend. Splash!

19. Run through a sprinkler

• Can you jump over the stream of water?

20. Play in kiddie swimming pool

21. Flying a kite.
22. Catch butterflies.
23. Take a Family Walk around the neighborhood.
24. Frisbee Play
• Use soft and lightweight frisbees made from foam, paper plates, or
pizza cardboards.

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25. *Obstacle Course Play
• Obstacle courses made from old car or bike tires, hula hoops,
appliance boxes, ropes, picnic tables. Use available objects to safely
and creatively move over, around, through, under, in, out, on, off, and
in between.

*Refer to Appendix A for an example of an obstacle course.

26. Walk on a balance board made from a 6 foot long 2” X 4” board.

27. Ball Play

• Throw small/medium/large balls overhand, underhand to a target or

partner.
• Catch, kick, roll, or bounce a ball
• Play Beachball Volleyball
• Play Driveway Hockey (using a soft puck or ball)
• Play basketball (with a low goal)
• Play T-ball

28. Large Muscle Equipment Play

• swings, slides, teeter-totters, gliders, climbers, ladders, bridges,
balance beams, tunnels, swinging rings, stairs

29. Build a snowman

30. Throw and catch snowballs
31. Go sledding down a hill
32. Make angels in the snow
33. Walk through the snow (up/down hills)
34. Build a snow fort/igloo
35. Go ice skating

36. Community Movement Opportunities:

• Gymnastics’ Clubs
• Dance Studio
• Ice Skating Rink- indoor/outdoor
• Community Center - variety of fitness and movement programs for all
ages.
• Parks and Playgrounds – community, school, city, county, or state.
• Swimming – free play swim or lessons at: area lakes, school pools,
fitness center.
• Fitness/Health Club
• Community Education – School district. A variety of family activities,
Fun Nights, special events.
• City Parks and Recreation – local activities, events for children.

64
• County/Regional Nature Center – variety of nature activities walks for
families.
• Family Fun walk/run for charity.
• Courage Center
• Therapeutic horseback riding

65
Understanding the Roles of Teachers and Therapists in Early
Childhood Special Education Movement Settings

A clear understanding of the roles of Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) team
members who deliver instruction or services in the physical or motor domain is essential
to meaningful implementation of the IEP/IIIP /IFSP.

The Developmental Adapted Physical Education (DAPE) Teacher

In special education, an effective Developmental Adapted Physical Education teacher
cooperatively communicates with many people on the child’s IEP/IIP/IFSP team.
Maintaining a respectful and collaborative relationship with professionals and parents
provides a combined effort of everyone working together in the best interest of the child
with a disability. DAPE teachers are educationally licensed special education service
providers. DAPE teachers deliver services to special education students who meet
federal and state DAPE eligibility criteria and who demonstrate a need for
Developmental Adapted Physical Education.

Some of a DAPE teacher’s responsibilities include: membership on the evaluation team,

interpreting gross motor referrals, administering and interpreting gross motor evaluations,
writing evaluation reports, writing student present levels of performance in the gross
motor area, determining gross motor needs, writing gross motor goals and objectives,
and documenting and monitoring progress on IEP/IIIP/IFSP gross motor goals and
objectives. Other responsibilities may include consultation with parents and other
members of the team, adapting equipment, making curriculum modifications, and
offering suggestions to ensure safe and successful participation in the early childhood
movement program. The DAPE teacher may provide staff with information on various
teaching strategies, on how to structure safe play environments, as well as how to teach
activities that emphasize maximum participation of all children in developmentally
appropriate movement activities.

The DAPE teacher supports the teacher(s) of the general early childhood movement
program and provides eligible special education students with specially designed physical
education instruction. The physical, cognitive, social, communication, and behavioral
needs of eligible students are considered for safe and successful participation in general
preschool movement program.

DAPE teachers need to collaborate with occupational therapists and/or physical therapists
to further understand the underlying basis for the physical and motor issues of students.
It is essential that the DAPE teacher communicates regularly with the ECSE teacher, the
teacher of the general preschool movement program, and IEP/IIIP/IFSP team members to
have a full understanding of the child’s cognitive, communication, and emotional needs
so a comprehensive approach to the student’s education can be implemented.

66
DAPE teachers provide support for special education children with disabilities who have
identified needs. DAPE instruction considers the whole child and the functional skills of
the child within large motor movement and play activities. DAPE supports the physical
education curriculum with a focus on fundamental motor skills and patterns, object
manipulation, body and spatial awareness, and physical fitness. DAPE also contributes
to a student’s accessibility and functional skills within the preschool movement program.
Specially designed DAPE instruction for young children ages 3-5 with identified needs
may include: teaching fundamental movement skills, teaching play skills, promoting
physical fitness, and teaching children how to safely access play equipment.

The Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Teacher

The ECSE teacher provides general physical education for all special education children
ages 3-5 who are developmentally delayed (DD). ECSE may be a program integrated
with typical children in either a school based Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)
setting or a community based preschool setting. ECSE may also be a program
exclusively of children with educational disabilities.

In an integrated program, the physical education (movement) activities may be taught by:
the regular preschool teacher, the teacher of ECFE, the Head Start teacher, the
community preschool teacher, the ECSE teacher, or collaboratively by the ECSE teacher
and the regular preschool teacher.

Physical education is the only academic area included in the federal IDEA definition of
special education. This means that ECSE teachers are responsible for physical education
(movement education) instruction to all children with disabilities who meet the
ECSE/DD criteria. Only the ECSE students who meet DAPE eligibility criteria and
demonstrate a need for DAPE are eligible to receive DAPE services. The physical
education needs of children meeting the DAPE eligibility criteria are often appropriately
met by a combination of both the DAPE teacher and the ECSE teacher working together
as a team.

Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT)

The goal of occupational therapy and physical therapy is to assist the individual to be as
functionally independent as possible in any environment within the context of his/her
condition. Using the disablement model as a framework, therapists will look at the
multiple roles of the individual and how the individual’s disease/disorder/condition leads
to impairments, functional limitations and disability.

The disablement model requires the therapist to focus on what the child needs to do to be
successful in the educational setting instead of what is wrong with the child. The focus is
on the task the child is expected to perform and what is needed to accomplish this task.
The focus of the disablement model is not “fixing” the child but adapting the task,
expectations, and/or environment, and facilitating successful performance by the child to
accomplish the task.

67
Occupational therapy and physical therapy are related services. IDEA ’97 defines
occupational therapy and physical therapy as related services for Part B and as early
intervention services for Part C. Minnesota law defines occupational therapy and
physical therapy as related services for Parts B and Part C of IDEA ’97.

In Minnesota, a related service is not a primary special education service. In order for a
student to receive OT or PT, the student must be identified as a special education student
and demonstrate both a need for special education instruction and a need for
supplementary/complementary support services. These services must relate to the child’s
primary educational goals. The team must determine that without the expertise of the
therapist as a team member, at student could not achieve the goals and objectives of the
IEP.

Occupational therapy and physical therapy have separate definitions in Part B and Part C.

Occupational Therapy: Services provided by a qualified occupational

therapist; and includes improving, developing or restoring functions impaired
or lost through illness, injury, or deprivation; improving ability to perform
tasks for independent functioning if functions are impaired or lost; preventing
through early intervention, initial or further impairment or loss of function.

The OT has expertise in assistive technology and curricular adaptations for

motor, perceptual and sensory issues.

Physical Therapy: Services provided by a qualified, Board licensed physical

therapist, with the focus on the functional abilities of the student in the total
educational environment. The PT’s expertise in posture, gait, cardio-
respiratory function, joint flexibility, muscle strength, and functional mobility
bring a unique perspective to the team. PT’s also have expertise in adapting
equipment and the environment to allow the student to be as independent as
possible.

68
Resources

Glossary

Assessment is the process of child study which involves four separate but related steps:
screening, diagnosis, program planning, and program evaluation.

Cognitive refers to the mental process of reasoning, memory, comprehension and

judgment.

DAPE Developmental Adapted Physical Education is physical education that is adapted

to the individual needs of students with disabilities who also meet DAPE eligibility
criteria.

*Developmentally appropriate refers to the suitability of the activity, equipment, or

instruction for the present performance or ability level of the infant, toddler, or
preschooler.

Diagnosis is a process designed to confirm or refute the existence of a problem and

describe the nature of the problem, if it exists.

*Exercise is planned, structured, and repetitive physical activity that is designed to

improve and maintain physical fitness.

*Fine motor skills are those actions that require control of the small muscles of the body
to achieve skillfulness. Examples include drawing, cutting with scissors, handwriting,
and playing a musical instrument.

*Fundamental motor skills are the foundational skills that provide the building blocks
for specific movements such as those found in sport, games, and dance. Examples of
fundamental motor skills include jumping, hopping, leaping, kicking, galloping, sliding,
skipping, walking and running.

Health related fitness refers to those components of fitness that are related in a positive
manner to health and well being. These components include cardiovascular endurance,
muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition.

*Infancy refers to the period from birth to 18 months of age.

*Large motor skills are those actions that use the large muscles of the body to achieve
skillfulness. Examples include walking, jumping, skipping and throwing.

*National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), an association of the
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD).
2002. Active start: A statement of physical activity guidelines for children birth to five
years. Reston, VA: NASPE Publications.

69
*Locomotor skills are movements that transport an individual from one place to another.
Examples include rolling, walking, running, jumping, hopping, galloping and skipping.

*Manipulative skills (object control) involve control of objects primarily with the hands
or feet. Examples of these skills include throwing, catching, dribbling, kicking, and
striking.

*Moderate physical activity is easily maintained and is performed at an intensity in

which heart rate and breathing are increased.

*Motor skill refers to physical activity that is directed toward a specific function or goal.

*Motor skillfulness occurs when the goal of the action is efficiently achieved with
maximum likelihood of success.

*Non-locomotor skills are those activities where there is minimal or no movement of the
body’s base of support (i.e. the feet). These skills usually require the individual to
maintain balance over the base while moving other parts of the body such as the trunk or
arms. Examples include bending, swaying or twisting.

Objective is a desired outcome in affective, cognitive and psychomotor development.

Outcome is an established measure of child success in an identified goal.

*Play is the means by which infants and young children physically explore their
environment and increase their language, imagination and creative thinking. Play can be
vigorous, but it does not always involve movements that result in meaningful energy
expenditure.

*Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that
result in energy expenditure. For infants and very young toddlers, a more common way
to describe young children’s physical activity is the term “movement”.

*Physical fitness is a condition where the body is in a state of well being and readily able
to meet the physical challenges of everyday life. Most experts believe physical fitness is
the result of practicing a physically active lifestyle. For young children, appropriate
movement tasks and experiences can enhance overall body strength, bone density and
developmental functioning of the cardiovascular system.

*Preschooler is the term used to describe a child who is 3-5 years of age.

*National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), an association of the
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD).
2002. Active start: A statement of physical activity guidelines for children birth to five
years. Reston, VA: NASPE Publications.

70
Sedentary refers to a condition of physical inactivity.

*Structured physical activity is planned and directed by the parent, caregiver, or teacher
and is designed to accommodate the infant, toddler, or preschooler’s developmental level.

*Toddler refers to a child who is 12 months to 3 years of age.

*Unstructured physical activity is child-initiated physical activity that occurs as the

child explores his or her environment.

*Vigorous physical activity can produce fatigue in a short period of time and is
performed at an intensity in which heart rate and breathing are elevated to the levels
higher than those observed for moderate physical activity. Examples of vigorous
physical activity include running, jumping rope and biking.

*National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), an association of the
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD).
2002. Active start: A statement of physical activity guidelines for children birth to five
years. Reston, VA: NASPE Publications.

71
Acronyms

AAHPERD American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
ADD Attention deficit disorder
(Note: this is not a “category” of disabling conditions.)
ADHD Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(Note: this is not a “category” of disabling conditions.)
ASD Autism Spectrum Disorder
AT Assistive Technology
CEC Council for Exceptional Children
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CP Cerebral Palsy
CST Child Study Team
COPEC Council on Physical Education for Children
DAPE Developmental Adapted Physical Education
DCD Developmental Cognitive Disability
DEC Division of Early Childhood
DD Developmental Delay
D/HH Deaf/Hard of Hearing
DS Down Syndrome
EBD Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
EC Early Childhood
ECFE Early Childhood Family Education
ECSE Early Childhood Special Education
ER Evaluation Report
FAE Fetal Alcohol Effect
FAPE Free Appropriate Public Education
FAS Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
HI Hearing Impaired
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act):
the Federal law for special education
IEP Individual Education Plan
IFSP Individual Family Service Plan
IIIP Individual Interagency Intervention Plan
IPP Individual Program Plan
LRE Least Restrictive Environment

72
MAHPERD Minnesota Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and
Dance
MDE Minnesota Department of Education
NASPE National Association for Sport and Physical Education
NAEYC National Association for the Education of Young Children
OHD Other Health Disorders
OT Occupational Therapy
PCA Personal Care Attendant
PDD Pervasive Developmental Disorder
PI Physical Impairment
PLEP Present Level of Educational Performance
PT Physical Therapy
SE Special Education
SI Sensory Impairment (Note: SI is not a disability category)
SLD Specific Learning Disability
SMI Severely Multiply Impaired
SST Student Support Team
SP/L Speech Language
TBI Traumatic Brain Injury
VI Visually Impaired

73
Equipment/Materials

Abilitations (Sportime)
One Sportime Way
Atlanta, Georgia 30340
1-800-850-8602
www.abilitations.com

ASTM/CPSC Playground Audit Guide

Playworld Systems
315 Cherry Street
P. O. Box 505
New Berlin, PA 17855
(800) 233-8404
www.playdesign.com

Beyond Play – Early Intervention Products for Children Birth-5 with Special Needs
1442-A Walnut Street #52
Berkeley, CA 94709
Toll Free: 1-877-428-1244
www.beyondplay.com

Chime Time (catalog of soft, colorful textured balls)

2440-C Pleasantdale Road
Atlanta, GA 30340-1562
1-800-477-5075

Discount School Supply Company

PO Box 7636
Spreckels, CA 93962-7636
(800) 627-2829
www.discountschoolsupply.com

Dragon Fly Toy Company (adapted battery toys & playground equipment)
291 Yale Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3M 0L4
Canada
1-800-308-2208
Email: [email protected]

Educational Activities, Inc.

P.O. Box 392
Edison, NJ 08818-3081
1-800-645-2796
www.edact.com

74
Equipment Shop (tricycle adaptations)
PO Box 33
Bedford, MA 01730
1-800-525-7681
www.equipmentshop.com

Flaghouse, Inc.
(Physical Education, Special Populations and Rehab Resources)
601 Flaghouse Drive
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604
1-800-793-7900
www.flaghouse.com

Freedom Concepts Inc. (adapted trikes/bikes)

45117 RPO Regent
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R2C 5C7
1-800-661-9915
www.freedomconcepts.com

Gopher Sport Equipment & Play with a Purpose

PO Box 998
Owatonna, MN 55060
1-800-533-0446
www.gophersport.com

Kaplan Early Learning Company

1310 Lewisville-Clemmons Road
Lewisville, NC 27023 USA
1-800-334-2014
www.kaplanco.com

Leaps and Bounds

PO Box 517
Lake Bluff, IL 60044
1-800-477-2189
www.leapsandboundscatalog.com

Oriental Trading Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 2308
Omaha, NE 68103-2308
1-800-228-0475
www.orientaltrading.com

Playground 101 Planning Guide/Checklist

Everything You Need to Know About Selection of Playground Equipment
Play Designs
P.O. Box 427
315 Cherry Street
New Berlin, PA 17855
(800) 327-7571
www.playdesigns.com

75
Rifton Equipment (adapted trikes and mobility equipment)
PO Box 901 Route 213
Rifton, NY 12471
1-800-777-4244
www.rifton.com

Sportime Select Service and Supply Company

1 Sportime Way
Atlanta, GA 30340
1-800-444-5700
www.sportime.com

Sammons Preston: An AbilityOne Company

P.O. Box 5071
Bolingbrook, IL 60440-5071
1-800-323-5547
www.sammonspreston.com

Southpaw Enterprises
PO Box 517
Dayton, OH 45401-1047
(800) 228-1698
www.southpawenterprises.com

Toys “R” Us
Guide for Differently-Abled Kids
P.O. Box 8501
Nevada, IA 50201-9968
(A guide to help choose appropriate toys for children with special needs.
Copies available at your local Toys “R” Us store.)

Tumble Forms
Bergeron Health Care
15 Second Street
Dolgeville, NY 13329
1-800-371-2778
www.adaptivemall.com

Publishers

American Guidance Services (AGS Publishing)

4201 Woodland Road
Circle Pines, MN 55014-1796
1-800-328-2560
www.agsnet.com

76
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD)
1900 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191
703-476-3410
www.aahperd.org

The Center for Applied Research in Education

West Nyack, NY 10994
http://www.phdirect.com

High Scope Press

Department 10
600 North River Street
Ypsilanti, MI 48198
1-800-40PRESS

Human Kinetics
P.O. Box 5076
Champaign, IL 61825-5076
1-800-747-4457
www.humankinetics.com

National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)

www.aahperd.org/naspe
Email: [email protected]

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

1509 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036-1426
www.naeyc.org
1-800-424-2460

Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

Box 10624
Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
www.brookespublishing.com

Prentice Hall
www.prenhall.com

PRO-ED, Inc. (publishers)

8700 Shoal Creek Blvd.
Austin, Texas 78757-6897
1-800-897-3202
http://www.proedinc.com

Music

Greg and Steve

www.gregandsteve.com

77
Hobbitat Inc. (records)
6070 Shingle Creek Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55430
(612) 560-8188

Kimbo Educational
PO Box 477
Long Branch, NJ 07740
Toll Free (800) 631-2187
Fax (732) 870-3340
www.kimboed.com

Melody House (records)

819 Northwest 92nd Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73114
1-800-234-9228
www.melodyhousemusic.com

Mr. Al Music
www.mralmusic.com

Raffi
www.raffinews.com/catalogue/albums.html

Aquatics

Brook Swimming Pool Equipment Suppliers

(swim diapers for all sizes)
PO Box 185307
Hamden, CT 06518-0307
(800) 332-2360
www.BrockEnt.com

Danmar Products, Inc.

(aquatics products)
221 Jackson Industrial Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Phone: 800-783-1998
Fax: 734-761-8977
www.danmarproducts.com

Kiefer
1700 Kiefer Drive
Zion, IL 60099-4093
(800) 323-4071
www.kiefer.com

78
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Website Resources

A to Z Teacher Stuff www.atozteacherstuff.com

Accessibility Guidelines for Public Play Areas www.access-board.gov
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons www.aaos.org
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, www.aahperd.org
Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD)
American Association for the Child’s Right to Play www.ipausa.org
American Society for Testing and Materials www.astm.org
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) www.usdaj.gov/crt/ada/adohom1.htm
Assistance Developing www.boundlessplaygrounds.org
Accessible Playgrounds
Autism Society of MN www.ausm.org
Brain Injury Association of MN www.braininjurymn.org
Closing the Gap www.closingthegap.com
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSP) www.cpsc.gov
Courage Center www.courage.org
Disability Resources www.disabilityresources.org
Division for Early Childhood of the Council for www.dec-sped.org
Exceptional Children
Dragonfly www.drtoys.com
Early Childhood www.earlychildhood.com
Educational Resource Information Center http://ericec.org
Exceptional Parent Magazine www.eparent.com
Family Friendly Fun www.familyfriendlyfun.com
Growth and Development www.kidshealth.org
Guidelines for Public Playgrounds www.playdesigns.com/safety/safe.html
Human Kinetics www.humankinetics.com
IDEA – Americans with Disabilities Education Act www.ideapractices.org
Inspiring Independence for Disabled Children www.hopeinconline.org
International Play Equipment Manufacturers www.ipema.org
Association
Minnesota Association for Health, Physical www.stcloudstate.edu/~mahperd
Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD)
The Minnesota State Council on Disability www.disability.state.mn.us
Manual for Schools on Developing Accessible www.ecsu.k12.mn.us/pub.htm
Playgrounds
Minnesota Parent-Journal of Family Living http://minnparent.com
Names and Links to Accessible Playground www.playgrounddirectory.com
Equipment
National Association for the Education of Young www.naeyc.org
Children (NAEYC)
National Association for Sport and Physical Education www.aahperd.org/naspe
(NASPE)
National Center on Accessibility www.ncaonline.org/playgrounds/index.shtml
National Program for Playground Safety www.uni.edu/playground
Neuroscience for Kids http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html
Northern Illinois University www.niu.edu
Palaestra www.palaestra.com
Parenthood www.parenthood.com
PE Central www.pecentral.com
Perpetual Preschool www.perpetualpreschool.com
Preschool Power www.preschoolpower.com

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President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports www.fitness.gov
Saint Cloud State University DAPE http://web.stcloudstate.edu/rjnearing/mndape/
Today’s Playground www.todaysplayground.com
Toy Guide for Differently Abled Children www.toysrus.com
Yoga for Kids www.yogamazing.com
www.currentwellness.com

83
Early Childhood Greatest Musical Hits!

Song Artist CD/Cassette/Record

1. In My Backyard Greg & Steve Big Fun
2. Silly Willies Greg & Steve Big Fun
3. The Macken Chicken Dance Greg & Steve Big Fun
4. The Movement Medley Greg & Steve Big Fun
5. I Can Work With One Hammer Greg & Steve Fun & Games
6. Beanie Bag Dance Greg & Steve Kids in Action
7. Beautiful World Greg & Steve Kids in Action
8. Can’t Sit Still Greg & Steve Kids in Action
(warm-up/body actions)
9. Conga Line Greg & Steve Kids in Action
10. New Beginning Greg & Steve Kids in Action
11. The Way We Do It Greg & Steve Kids in Action
(warm-up/body actions)
12. Body Rock (body ID, vocab) Greg & Steve Kids in Motion
13 Freeze (body ID) Greg & Steve Kids in Motion
14. Warmin’ Up Greg & Steve On the Move
15. (Cool down songs) Greg & Steve Quiet Movements with Greg & Steve
Siesta & others
16. Loop D’ Loo Greg & Steve We all Live Together Vol. 1
17. Skip to My Loo Greg & Steve We all Live Together Vol. 1
18. Good Morning Greg & Steve We all Live Together Vol. 2
19. Listen & Move Greg & Steve We all Live Together Vol. 2
(locomotor skills)
20. Number Rock Greg & Steve We all Live Together Vol. 2
21. Popcorn Greg & Steve We all Live Together Vol. 2
22. Resting (cool down) Greg & Steve We all Live Together Vol. 2
23. The Boogie Walk Greg & Steve We all Live Together Vol. 2
24. The Freeze Greg & Steve We all Live Together Vol. 2
25. The World is a Rainbow Greg & Steve We all Live Together Vol. 2
(ribbons)
26. Rainbow of Colors Greg & Steve We all Live Together Vol. 5
(ribbons)
27. A Walking We Will Go Greg & Steve We all Live Together Vol. 5
(locomotor skills)
28. Bean Bag Rock Georgiana Stewart Beanbag Act’s & Coordination Skills
29. Good Morning Georgiana Stewart Good Morning Ex. For Kids
30. Warm-up Time Georgiana Stewart Get a Good Start
31. Chug-a-long ChooChoo Georgiana Stewart Preschool Aerobic Fun
32. Bean Bag Alphabet Rag Hap Palmer Can A Cherry Pie Wave Goodbye?
33. Let’s All Clap Our Hands Hap Palmer Can A Cherry Pie Wave Goodbye?
34. Stepping Out on the Town Hap Palmer Can A Cherry Pie Wave Goodbye?
35. The Bean bag Hap Palmer Easy Does It
36. Birds in the Circle Hap Palmer Easy Does It
37. Smoke Drifts to the Sky Hap Palmer Easy Does It
(cool down)
38. Move Around the Color Hap Palmer Feelin’ Free
39. Rockin’ Hula Hap Palmer Feelin’ Free
40. Streamers (ribbons) Hap Palmer Movin’
41. Put Your Hands up in the Air Hap Palmer Vol.1 (black)
42. Parade of Colors Hap Palmer Vol.2 (red)
43. Triangle, Circle, Square Hap Palmer Vol.2 (red)
44. Walter the Waltzing Worm Hap Palmer Walter the Waltzing Worm
45. What a Miracle Hap Palmer Walter the Waltzing Worm
46. Let’s Get Started Mr. Al “Bop til you Drop” (Melody House)
47. Hello Everybody Mr. Al Mr. Al Sings and Moves (Melody House)
(warm-up/body actions)

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48. Rock ‘N Roll Body Parts Mr. Al Mr. Al Sings and Moves
(warm-up/body actions)
50. Moonbeams Mr. Al Mr. Al Sings and Moves
(ribbons)
51. Wiggle Your Knees Boogie Mr. Al Mr. Al Sings and Moves
52. Shake Everything Mr. Al Mr. Al Sings and Moves
(body actions)
53. The Jumping Song Mr. Al Mr. Al Sings and Moves
54. Galloping Country Style Mr. Al Mr. Al Sings and Moves
55. Move To The Music Mr. Al Mr. Al Sings and Moves
56. Bean Bag Bop Silly Willy Sports Workout
57. Cool Silly Willy Sports Workout
58. Let’s Hop Silly Willy Sports Workout
59. Marching Silly Willy Sports Workout
60. Pre-Jump Rope Skills Silly Willy Sports Workout
61. Pony Ride Silly Willy Sports Workout
62. Stretching Silly Willy Sports Workout
63. Workout Silly Willy Sports Workout
64. Gallop The Learning Station Physical Ed
65. Jumpin’ Jacks The Learning Station Physical Ed
66. Run & Walk The Learning Station Physical Ed
67. Stretch The Learning Station Physical Ed
68. Stomp & Clap The Learning Station Physical Ed
69. The Marching Game The Learning Station Physical Ed

10 Minute blank tapes:

World Class Tapes wholesale catalog
670 Airport Blvd. Suite 1
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
800-365-0669

Media Express
1402 First Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 872-0369
(They will make tapes to your specifications.
2 minute, 3 minute, 5 minute, 10 minute, whatever you would like.)

85
Appendix A

Obstacle Course Illustration

Equipment

• Nine maps or carpeted areas.

• Five wooden boards.
• Two foam beams.
• One A-frame climbing apparatus.
• Ten tires.
• One tunnel.
• One set of stairs.
• One tapered balance beam (or 8-foot length of 2-by-8-inch board, cuts to create a
taper toward one hand and placed on the floor).
• One ladder.
• One rainbow barrel.

From Moving with a Purpose by Renée M. McCall and Diane H. Craft, 2000, Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

86
Appendix B

Selected Group Game Instructions

Musical Hoops or Islands (Non Elimination)

1. Children each stand in their hula hoop or on their “island” (i.e. carpet square,
polydot)
2. When music plays, children walk around the room moving among the hoops
or “islands”.
3. When the music stops, children go and stand in a hoop or on an “island”
4. Repeat many times.
5. Variation: Have children use different locomotor patterns while moving
around the general space (walk backwards, gallop, jump, walk on tiptoes etc).
6. Variation: Have children share a hoop—“invite a friend to share your
hoop/island”. Adult can remove a few hoops each round of playing thus
making necessity for children to ‘share’ hoops/islands.
7. Variation: Add a sequence such as…when in your hoop put one hand on your
head and one hand on your knee OR put hands above heads, turn around and
stand on one foot.

Clean Out Your Backyard

1. Create a “fence” that divides the play space into two areas. This could be as
simple as a rope tied between two chairs, a tape line on the floor or a string of
pennant flags strung between chairs or marker cones (like a tennis net).
2. Divide children in two groups with half on each side of the “fence”.
3. Distribute many soft objects on each side of the fence (yarn balls, sponge/Nerf
balls, paper balls made from crumpled paper).
4. On a “Go” signal children pick up the objects and toss them across the fence.
Children have to stay on their side of the fence (Stay in your backyard).
Encourage children to throw the soft objects to empty spaces, not at children
on the other side of the fence.
5. Variation: Play lively music and when the music stops “take a break” (rest a
minute or teacher can demonstrate throwing technique to make the balls ‘go
farther’ etc). Then resume music and the flurry of tossing balls over the fence.
6. Game ends at any time and then everyone helps pick up all the soft objects
and put in the “recycle bin” (clean-up time).

Follow the Leader

1. Non-Locomotor: Children imitate what non-locomotor movement another

child (leader) does. (shake hands, stomp feet, swing arms, wave arm, twist
etc). Rotate leaders. Variations: Do to music and when the music stops, a

87
 different child becomes the leader. Do with a partner or do holding an object
such as a ribbon stick, pom-pom or scarf.
2. Locomotor: Children follow another child in a line (file) and imitate the
locomotor pattern of the leader (walk, jump, hop, slide, gallop etc).
Variations: Do to music and when the music stops, the first child goes to the
end of the line and the next child in line becomes the leader. Do with a
partner (get more turns being leader).

What Time is Mr. /Ms Fox? (Also called “Midnight”)

1. Students stand in a horizontal line (side by side) at the end of the play space.
They are the “sheep”.
2. One (or two) children can be “Mr. Fox” and stand at the far end of the play
space from the line of other children.
3. Children in the line ask in unison, “What time is it Mr. Fox?”
4. Mr. Fox replies by saying it is “4 o’clock” (or other number from 1-11).
5. Children in the line then take 4 steps (or as many as the number requires)
forward towards Mr. Fox.
6. Repeat the above.
7. When children get closer to Mr. Fox, he/she may choose to reply with the
word “Midnight”. At that time Mr. Fox chases the group of children (“the
sheep”) back to the “barn”/starting line. Encourage this to be merely a chase
and not tagging children.
8. Game resumes with another child(ren) being “Mr. Fox”.
9. Variation: Mr. Fox can have his/her back turned to the sheep and then needs
to use listening skills vs. visual to determine when to use the “Midnight”
response.

Help Your Neighbor

1. Children are each given a napkin, scarf, or beanbag, to place on their head
and walk around the room.
2. If the object falls off, they are “frozen” (stand still) until a friend comes and
picks up their object and gives it to them.

Red Light, Green Light

1. Children move around the room while a leader gives the signal of “Red Light”
(STOP) or “Green Light” (GO).
2. Variation: Use different locomotor patterns (walk, backwards, run, gallop,
slide, jump or hop).

Busy Bee or Back to Back

1. Children move around the room (may use music during this time or children
may make buzzing sound like a bee). On signal such as saying the words

88
 “Busy Bee” (or when music stops), children find a partner and put their backs
touching each other.
2. Vary the game by requesting other body parts (i.e. toe to toe, hands to hands,
elbow to elbow.

Body Letters, Numbers and Shapes

1. Adult says or holds up a picture of a letter, number or shape. Children use

their bodies to make the letter, number or shape (i.e. make a circle with arms).
Good letters to begin with are I, T, Y, and C.
2. Make shapes with a partner or in groups of threes or fours. Shapes could be
made standing or lying on the floor or using a combination of levels (one
standing and one lying down etc).

Parachute Game: Merry Go Round

1. While standing, children hold onto the edge of the parachute with right hand
and facing the same direction (clockwise). Play march tempo music and
children walk or march moving forward; the parachute will rotate like a
“merry-go round”.
2. Switch direction on signal (i.e. music stops) by holding onto the parachute
with other (left) hand and then move counterclockwise.
3. Vary locomotor skills (i.e. tiptoe, little running steps, gallop, jump).

Parachute Game: Pop Goes the Weasel

1. Children are standing in merry-go-round formation (see above). Several

children are selected to be the “weasels” and crouch under the parachute.
Sing the song words “All around the cobbler’s bench, the monkey chased the
weasel, the monkey thought it was all in fun and POP goes the weasel”. On
the word POP, all children holding onto the chute “raise” the chute up in the
air and those students who were under come out from under and join the
group.
2. Repeat with different children being the weasels.

Parachute Game: Changing Places

1. While standing, children hold onto the edge of the parachute with both hands
while facing towards the center of the parachute.
2. A leader calls out the names of two children. When the names are called all
the children simultaneously raise the parachute up high (make an umbrella)
and allow the parachute to slowly drift down.
3. Meanwhile the two children whose names were called run under the parachute
to the spot on the edge where the other child was standing (changing places).
4. Repeat the activity with different children changing places.

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Parachute Game: Popcorn

1. Children sit or stand holding onto the edge of the parachute with both hands
while facing towards the center of the parachute.
2. Lightweight balls are placed into the parachute (beach balls work well) and on
a signal children begin to shake the parachute which makes the balls “pop” up
into the air. Suggestion: Wait until all balls are “popped” out of the chute
before asking selected children to retrieve them.

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Appendix C

Movement Activity Parent Interview Form (Sample)

Name of Child: _____________________________________

Age of Child: _______________________________________
Person Interviewed: __________________________________
Interviewer Name/Title: _______________________________
Date: ___________________

1. Concerns: Do you have any concerns regarding your child’s physical movement or
play skills?

2. Playground/Outside Play:
What does your child like to do when playing outside?

Does your child like to play on wheeled riding toys?

3. Dislikes/Fears:
What physical activities does your child dislike, if any?

Fears? (i.e. swings, climbing heights/elevated equipment, ball play, hesitant on stairs,
etc.)

4. Risk Taking:
Is your child willing to try new challenges with physical activities?

Does your child need extra help when trying new movement tasks?

91
5. Endurance:
What have you noticed about your child’s endurance level?

Does your child tire easily?

Is your child able to keep up with family walks and neighborhood play?

Does your child prefer sedentary play or active play?

6. Community Activities:
Has your child participated in community activities?
(i.e. Park and Recreation classes, swimming lessons, etc.)

7. Medical Restrictions:
Does your child have any medical restrictions for physical activities?
(i.e. asthma, allergies, atlanto-axial instability x-rays for children with Down
Syndrome)

8. Safety Concerns:
Cognitive:
Does your child recognize danger?

Motor:
Can your child stop movement quickly and with control?

Does your child:

Trip or fall easily?

Bump into things?

Appear clumsy trying a new physical task?

Need ready-assist/spotting by an adult?

Behavioral:
Is your child impulsive?

92
 Is your child attentive/aware of surroundings?

9. Social/Emotional:
Does your child get frustrated with difficult tasks?

Does your child play with other children in physical activities or does your child
usually play alone?

Is self-esteem an issue?

10. Other Questions/Comments:

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Appendix D

Movement Activity Checklist (Sample)

Name: Date:
Rating Scale: P= Proficient; C= Competent; L= Learning

16-36 Comments:
Months

walks without falling or tripping

walks up/down stairs
jumps up off floor
jumps off bottom step
moves riding toy with feet
throws small ball
kicks small ball
Comments:
3 Years
walks smoothly
walks backward
runs at an even pace
turns/ stops with control when running
climbs up stairs alternating feet
jumps off low steps
jumps over low objects
throws ball into container
catches ball tossed underhanded from 3 feet
rides a trike
Comments:
4 Years
runs smoothly
gallops with good speed
stands on one foot
climbs down steps alternating feet
climbs on playground equipment
jumps on a trampoline
catches ball tossed underhanded

94
5 Years Comments:
walks on a balance beam/ board/curb
hops on each foot
bounces and catches ball /two hands
kicks a stationary soccer ball
walks, gallops, jumps, and runs in rhythm to music
throws with direction
skips with rhythm
identifies common body parts

6 Years Comments:
runs and changes directions quickly
jumps down from objects
jumps over objects
plays on outdoor equipment with control
throws / catches ball with partner
bounces ball with one hand
kicks moving soccer ball
demonstrates knowledge of basic spatial concepts

Scooterboard Skills Comments:

moves scooterboard forward using legs
moves scooterboard backward using legs
moves scooterboard in circle using legs
alternates arms/legs when moving in prone lying position

Trike Skills Comments:

gets on/off trike independently
starts initial pedaling independently
pedals/steers trike
makes left/right turns
follows trike path

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Playground Skills Comments:
walks on bridges and ramps
walks on sand/grass/rocks
walks on curbing/beams
crawls through tunnels
uses slides
swings /pumps
climbs stairs
climbs on playground ladder

Group Game Participation Comments:

participates in simple group games (i.e. “Midnight” etc.)
follows directions given to entire group
understands concepts of new games
responds to teacher’s signals
takes turns
shares equipment during play

Class Participation Comments:

locates floor marker/sits down for opening
participates in group warm-up exercises
participates in movement activities with peers
attempts new movement activities willingly
interacts positively with peers/adults
handles equipment safely
tolerates movement and noise level in gym
returns to floor marker for closure/cool down

Attention Span:

Independence:

Enjoyment of Movement Activities:

Observation Comments:

96
Appendix E
Tools for Evaluating Young Children

Developmental
Areas

Criterion-Referenced
Norm-Referenced

Social-Behavioral
Programming

Perception
Diagnostic
Screening

Language
Cognition

Self-Help
Name of Test Ages

Speech
Motor
01234567
Battelle Developmental
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Inventory (BDI)
Bayley Scales of
Infant Development – Second x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Ed. (Bayley II)
Brigance Diagnostic Inventory
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
of Early Development
Carolina Curriculum for
Preschoolers with Special x x x x x x x x x x x
Needs

Denver II x x x x x x x x x x x x

Hawaii Early
x x x x x x x x x x x
Leaning Profile (HELP)
Learning Accomplishment
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Profile - Revised (LAP-R)
Minneapolis Preschool
x x x x x x x x x
Screening Instrument (MPSI)

Motor Skills Inventory (MSI) x x x x x x x x x

Peabody Developmental
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Motor Scales-2
Portage Guide to
x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Early Education (Revised)
Test of Gross Motor
x x x x x x x x x
Development (TGMD)
Test of Gross Motor
x x x x x x x x x
Development-2 (TGMD2)

97
Appendix F

Special Education Laws

This section of the guide is to be used as a resource to help individuals in our

intended audience better understand the special education laws that have been
written to assure that every preschool child with a disability receives instruction in
movement education.

Federal Law
The Law mandates that all children, including those with disabilities, are to be served in
public education. Federal laws regarding special education come up for amendment each
year. States are given the discretion to define qualifications for the individual special
education categories. Changes can be made in special education eligibility criteria at that
time.

Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)

All children with disabilities are to have available to them a free appropriate public
education that includes special education and related services to meet their unique needs.

34 Congressional Federal Register (C.F.R.) Part 300.1

These services are available to eligible individuals from birth to 21 years of age.

34 Congressional Federal Register (C.F.R.) Part 300.8

Federal Law has clarified the role of special education in the preschool education setting.
Preschool children with disabilities ages three to five will receive a free, appropriate
public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE) in the same manner
that a student with a disability in the K-12 program benefits from the Federal Law.

Greenburg, D.G.: In McCall and Craft. 2000.

Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 1997

IDEA defines the term “special education” to mean a specially designed instruction, at no
cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, including:

A. instruction in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals, and institutions and

in other settings; and
B. instruction in physical education

IDEA, 1997, U.S. Code Service Title 20, SEC. 1401 [25]

Physical education is the only academic area mentioned in the definition of special
education.

98
The Federal Government has categories to define and serve children with disabilities.

“child with a disability” is defined by IDEA ‘97 as a child:

(i) with mental retardation, hearing impairments (including deafness), speech or

language impairments, visual impairments (including blindness), serious
emotional disturbance (hereinafter referred to as ‘emotional disturbance’),
orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health
impairments, or specific learning disabilities;

and

(ii) who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services”
(because they are not performing within the broad range of normality and
interventions are necessary as part of their education).

IDEA, 1997, U. S. Code Service Title 20, sec. 1404 [3]

Under IDEA ‘97, it is not enough for a child to have one of these disabilities to qualify
for special education services; in addition, there must also be evidence indicating that the
disability adversely affects the child’s educational performance.

Physical Education
Federal law (IDEA ‘97) states that physical education, including movement education
and motor development, must be made available to every child with a disability receiving
a free and appropriate public education. This includes “specially designed” physical
education (adapted physical education).

34 Congressional Federal Register (CFR) 300.307(a)

Regular Physical Education

Each child with a disability must be afforded the opportunity to participate in the regular
physical education program available to non-disabled children unless –

(1) the child is enrolled full time in a separate facility; or

(2) child needs specially designed physical education, as prescribed in the
child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

IEP 34 Congressional Federal Register (CFR) 300.307(b)

Special Physical Education

If specially designed physical education is prescribed in a child’s IEP, the public agency
responsible for the education of that child shall provide the services directly, or make
arrangements for those services to be provided through other public or private programs.

34 Congressional Federal Register (CFR) 300.307(c)

99
According to Federal Law (IDEA ‘97), physical education is defined as:

(A) physical and motor fitness;

(B) fundamental motor skills and patterns; and
(C) skills in aquatics, dance, and individual and group games and sports
(including intramural and lifetime sports).

and

(ii) The term includes “special physical education”, adapted physical education,
movement education, and motor development.

Congressional Federal Register, p.42480, 1977.

McCall and Craft emphasize that physical education is more than a recess, free time on
the playground equipment, running around the gross motor room, or sitting in a corner
watching the other children play. It is instruction in learning to move skillfully in a wide
variety of physical activities and games. It is also instruction in learning how to develop
fitness, follow directions, follow routines, adhere to rules, interact appropriately with
peers, and gain knowledge of everyday concepts through the medium of movement.

In McCall and Craft: “Moving With a Purpose”, 2000.

Minnesota Law
State laws generally parallel IDEA. The federal government provides financial assistance
to the states to implement IDEA, but the states must have laws which implement IDEA.
States can provide children with more rights, but not fewer protections, than IDEA does.
Individual eligibility requirements are under the discretion of each state.

Minnesota defines “special education” as:

any specially designed instruction and related services to meet the unique
cognitive, academic, communicative, social and emotional, motor ability,
vocational, sensory, physical, or behavioral and functional needs of a pupil as
stated in the IEP.

Minnesota Rules 3525 Subpart 20a.

Minnesota defines “child with a disability” as:

one who has an identified disability and needs special instruction and services.
A child with a temporary or an acute disability is not considered to be a child
with a disability.

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 Subd. 3a (1) states that all students with disabilities are provided
appropriate services based upon their needs as contained in
their individualized educational program plans (IEP’s).

Subd. 32 (2) states that children with a disability under the age of five and
their families are to be provided appropriate services
commensurate with their needs.

Minnesota Rules, 120.17, Subd. 1.

Minnesota’s Special Education Disability Categories

• Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

• Deaf-Blind (DB)
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH)
• Developmental Cognitive Disability (DCD)
(Mild Moderate; Severe Profound)
• Emotional or Behavioral Disorders (EBD)
• Other Health Disabilities (OHD)
• Physically Impaired (PI)
• Severely Multiply Impaired ( SMI)
• Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
• Speech or Language Impairments
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Visually Impaired (VI)
• Developmental Delay (DD)

Minnesota Rules 3525.1325-1350

Special Education Eligibility

Under IDEA ‘97, the special education eligibility criteria for ‘developmental delay’
includes young children from *birth to 9 years of age who are:

(i) experiencing developmental delays, as defined by the State and as measured

by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures, in one or more of the
following areas: physical development, cognitive development,
communication development, social or emotional development, or adaptive
development;

and

(ii) who, by reason thereof, need special education and related services”

(IDEA, 1997, U.S. Code Service Title 20, sec. 1401 [3] [B])

101
This provision allows children who do not have known disabilities, but who are at risk of
developing disabilities, to receive special education services.

The federal law (IDEA ‘97) gives each state the discretion to develop its own criteria for
the special education category of ‘developmental delay’.

*Minnesota’s eligibility criterion for the special education category of

‘developmental delay’ includes children from birth to 6 years 11months.

Minnesota Rules (M.R.) 3525.1350

Early Childhood/Special Education (ECSE)

The mission of ECSE is to provide outcomes that would not normally occur in the
absence of intervention or teaching. A delay in acquiring early basic skills seriously
impedes a child’s acquisition of more complex skills, leading to secondary disabilities
and also limits the child educationally and occupationally. The necessary interventions
should be provided in the least restrictive environment.

Minnesota Rules, 3525.1350

(see ECSE Criteria at the end of this section)

102
Early Childhood: Special Education Eligibility Criteria

Subpart 1. Definition. Early childhood special education should be made available to pupils from birth to
seven years of age who have a substantial delay or disorder in development or have an identifiable sensory,
physical, mental, or social/emotional condition or impairment known to hinder normal development and
need special education.

(Minnesota Rules, 3525.1350)

Subpart 2. Criteria for three through six years of age.

The team shall determine that a child from the age of three years through the age of six years and 11
months is eligible for early childhood special education when:

A. the child meets the criteria of one of the disability categories;

or

B. the child meets one of the criteria for developmental delay in sub item (1) and the criteria
in sub items (2) and (3). Local school districts have the option of implementing these
criteria for developmental delay. If a district chooses to implement these criteria, it may
not modify them.

(1) the child:

a. has a medically diagnosed syndrome or condition that is known to hinder normal

development including cerebral palsy, chromosome abnormalities, fetal alcohol
syndrome, maternal drug use, neural tube defects, neural muscular disorders,
cytomegalovirus, grades III and IV intracranial hemorrhage, and
bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD);
b. has a delay in each of two or more areas of development that is verified by an
evaluation using technically adequate, norm-referenced instruments. Subtests of
instruments are not acceptable. The instruments must be individually administered
by appropriately trained professionals and the scores must be at least 1.5 standard
deviations below the mean in each area;

(2) the child’s need for special education is supported by at least one documented,
systematic observation in the child’s daily routine setting by an appropriate
professional. If observation in the daily routine setting is not possible, the alternative
setting must be justified;

(3) corroboration of the developmental evaluation or the medical diagnosis with a

developmental history and at least one other evaluation procedure in each area that is
conducted on a different day than the medical or norm-referenced evaluation.

Other procedures which may be used here include parent report, language sample, criterion referenced
instruments, or developmental checklists.

(Minnesota Rules, 3525.1350)

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Developmental Adapted Physical Education
To meet eligibility for Developmental Adapted Physical Education, a child must first go through the special
education evaluation process to determine if the child has a categorical disability and is in need of special
education. The child then needs to be evaluated by a DAPE teacher to determine if s/he meets DAPE
criteria and if s/he demonstrates in need for Developmental Adapted Physical Education.

Minnesota Developmental Adapted Physical Education Eligibility Criteria

Developmental Adapted Physical Education: Special Education

Subpart 1. Definition. “developmental adapted physical education: special education” means specially
designed physical education instruction and services for pupils with disabilities who have a substantial
delay or disorder in physical development. Developmental adapted physical education: special education
instruction for pupils age three through 21 may include development of physical fitness, motor fitness,
fundamental motor skills and patterns, skills in aquatics, dance, individual and group games, and sports.

Students with conditions such as obesity, temporary injuries, and short-term or temporary illness or
disabilities are termed special needs students. Special needs students are not eligible for developmental
adapted physical education: special education. Provisions and modifications for these students must be
made within regular physical education.

Subpart 2. Criteria. A pupil is eligible for developmental adapted physical education: special education if
the team determines the pupil meets the criteria in items A and B.

A. The pupil has one of the following disabilities in each respective criterion in parts
3525.1325 to 3525.1341, 3525.1345, and 3525.1354: autism spectrum disorders, deaf-
blind, emotional or behavioral disorders, deaf or hard of hearing, specific learning
disability, developmental cognitive disability, severely multiply impaired, other health
disability, physically impaired, visually impaired, traumatic brain injury or part
3525.1350, subpart 3 (Early Childhood/ Special Education).

and

B. The pupil is determined by the team to need specially designed physical education
instruction because:

(1) the pupil’s performance on an appropriately selected, technically adequate, norm-

referenced psychomotor or physical fitness instrument is 1.5 standard deviations or
more below the mean. The instrument must be individually administered by
appropriately licensed teachers;

or

(2) the pupil’s development or achievement and independence in school, home, and
community settings is inadequate to allow the pupil to succeed in the regular physical
education program as supported by written documentation from two or more of the
following: motor and skill checklists; informal tests; criterion-referenced measures;
deficits in achievement related to the defined curriculum; medical history or reports;
parent and staff interviews; systematic observations; and social, emotional, and
behavioral assessments.

Minnesota Rules, 3525.135

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The Special Education Process (IDEA)
Every school district has the legal duty to identify, locate, and evaluate children who may
be in need of special education. Once a child is identified and located, the school district
must find him or her eligible for special education through an evaluation and IEP process
before specific programs and services can be provided.

According to IDEA ‘97, the process of special education eligibility starts with a referral
for evaluation by a parent or teacher. The child is then evaluated in all areas of
development to see if he or she has one or more disability areas or a developmental delay
in the following areas: physical development, cognitive development, communication
development, social or emotional development, or adaptive development that requires
special education or related services.

(NOTE: The disability areas listed in IDEA may differ slightly from state to state. Refer
to Minnesota’s definition of disability)

If the evaluation team recommendation is that the child is eligible for special education
services, the IEP team meets to develop an IEP and to place the child in a program that is
specifically designed to meet his or her unique needs. The special services are
implemented. An annual review of the child’s progress takes place every year. Every
three years there is a complete evaluation to update information on the child’s
educational performance in all developmental areas. (Typically, a three-year reevaluation
is due when the preschool child transitions to elementary school.)

Evaluations
IDEA ‘97 states that children with disabilities are to be assessed in all areas of suspected
disability, including cognitive, communication, motor, social-emotional, behavioral, and
functional.

According to IDEA, testing requirements include that: “tests are not

discriminatory on a racial or cultural basis and are provided and administered in
the child’s native language or other mode of communication unless it is clearly
not feasible to do so; and have been validated for the specific purpose for which
they are used; and are administered by trained personnel [following the test
instruction] provided by their producer. The child is assessed in all areas related
to the suspected disability”

(IDEA, 1999, U.S. Code Service Title 20, sec. 1414 [b])

It is appropriate practice to have an adapted physical education teacher involved in the

special education evaluation process to interpret the gross motor screening tool; and, to
assure the appropriate tools and procedures are used to conduct the assessment should
the screening tool indicate that the child may possibly have concerns in the gross motor
area.
(see Developmental Adapted Physical Education criteria)

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Individual Education Program (IEP)
Federal law (IDEA ‘97) created a document called the individualized educational
program (IEP) that defines the individualized plan developed by parents (foster parents,
or legal guardians) and professionals to meet the specific needs of each student with a
disability.

In Minnesota, the following terms refer to individual education programs for

students with disabilities: the Individualized Education Program (IEP), the
Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), and the Individual Interagency
Intervention Plan (IIIP).

IDEA ‘97 defines the IEP as a written statement for a child with a disability that includes:

i a statement of the child’s present levels of performance:

I. how the child’s disability affects the child’s involvement and

progress in the general curriculum; or
II. for preschool children, as appropriate, how the disability affects
the child’s participation in appropriate activities;

ii a statement of measurable annual goals, including benchmarks or

short-term objectives, related to:

I. meeting the child’s needs that result from the child’s disability to
enable the child to be involved in and progress in the general
curriculum; and
II. meeting each of the child’s other educational needs that result from
the child’s disability
III. a statement of the special education and related services and
supplementary aids and services to be provided to the child, or on
behalf of the child, and a statement of the program modifications
or supports for school personnel that will be provided for the child.

IDEA, 1997, .U.S. Code sec. 1414 (d)

Physical Education is a Direct Service

Physical education is a direct service, not a related service. This means that physical
education is mandated for all students with disabilities; whereas, related services such
as physical therapy and occupational therapy are received by students with disabilities
only on an “as needed” basis. Occupational therapy and physical therapy cannot be
substituted for physical education.

34 Federal Register 300.307

106
Related Services
Federal Law (IDEA’97) states that the term “related services” means developmental,
corrective, and other supportive services (including occupational therapy, physical
therapy, recreation (including therapeutic recreation), speech-language pathology,
psychological services, audiology services, orientation and mobility services, social work
services, counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling, transportation, and
medical services, except that such medical services shall be for diagnostic and evaluation
purposes only) as may be required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from
special education, and includes the early identification and assessment of disabling
conditions in children.

(IDEA, 1997, U.S. Code Service, Title 20, sec. 1401 [22])

Least Restrictive Environment

Federal Law (IDEA ‘77) states that children with disabilities are to be educated in the
“least restrictive environment” (LRE), which means the regular classroom whenever
possible. This encourages preschoolers with disabilities to be educated in regular settings
with their typical peers, rather than in separate special education classes or schools.

Regarding “least restrictive environment”, IDEA states:

1. That to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities including

children in public or private institutions are educated with children who are
not disabled, and
2. That special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with
disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only when the
nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes
with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved
satisfactorily.

(IDEA, l977, U.S. Code Service, Title 45, sec. 1401 121a.550})

Educational Placements
According to IDEA ‘97, there is to be a continuum of educational placements. Each
public agency should ensure that a continuum of alternate placements is available to meet
the needs of children with disabilities for special education and related services. The
continuum must:

a. include the alternative placements listed in the definition of special

education which are in regular classes, special classes, special schools, home
instruction, and instruction in hospitals and institutions; and
b. make provision for supplementary services (such as a resource room or
itinerant instruction) to be provided in conjunction with regular class
placement.

34 D Federal Register 300.551

107
Instructional Delivery of Programs

Indirect Services
Minnesota defines “indirect” services to mean special education services which include
ongoing progress reviews; cooperative planning; consultation; demonstration teaching;
modification and adaptation of the environment, curriculum, materials, or equipment; and
direct contact with the pupil to monitor and observe. Indirect services may be provided
by a teacher or a related services professional to another regular education (teacher),
special education teacher, related services professional, paraprofessional, support staff,
parents, and public and nonpublic agencies to the extent that the services are written in
the pupil’s IEP or IFSP.

Minnesota Rules 3525.0200 subp 8c.

Direct services
Minnesota defines direct services to mean special education services provided by a
teacher or a related service professional when the services are related to instruction,
including cooperative teaching.

Minnesota Rules 3525.0200 subp 8c.

Parent Participation
IDEA ‘97 states that parents and legal guardians participate in major educational
decisions regarding their child. If parents and school should disagree on an appropriate
educational approach for the child, the parents have the right of due process (legal
recourse) to appeal the committee decision to an impartial judge who can make the
decision regarding the child’s educational program.

108