Body awareness is an important part of the child development process. This concept can seem more hidden and less obvious than other milestones children meet in the early years. In this blog, you can find out what this ability entails and how you can help your child develop it by playing dress-up with them. Enjoy.
Body awareness is important for gross motor development, motor planning, spatial planning, and understanding our body in space. It includes knowledge of our body parts and what they can do, and the naming of our body parts. Dressing up and pretend games can help develop this important concept.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
• A Collection of Dressing Up Clothes! Shoes, coats, scarves, capes, jewellery, masks, tutus, gloves, crowns, tiaras, bags, glasses, different accessories, and hats such as a woolly hat, cap, sun hat, fireman’s hat, pilot’s cap and more.
• A Mirror
Young child pretending to dress up as a pilot. Pretend play to teach body awareness.
WHAT TO DO
• Use different pieces of clothing to accentuate different body parts and teach body concepts. Put gloves on your hands, different shoes on your feet, and scarves around your neck. Look in the mirror once you are dressed.
• Where does it go? Ask: “Where does a hat go? On my hands? On my feet? Or my tummy? No, it goes on my head!”
• Encourage your child to perform the character of the outfit in front of the mirror with you. Stand up like a soldier, make a “whoosh” sound for the pilot flying the plane, and more.
• Jewellery is a great way to learn the names of body parts. We put bracelets around our wrists, necklaces around our necks, and earrings on our ears.
• Become aware of the seasons by putting on summer clothes such as swimming costumes and goggles, and winter clothes such as ski suits, scarves, boots, gloves, and woolly hats. What do we wear during which season?
• Keep a dress-up box for your child with a range of clothing, wraps, scarves, shoes, and interesting fabrics.
• Dress dolly or teddy or Clamber Club’s Jog the Frog in different clothes.
WHY?
• To promote body awareness.
• To develop important language and communication skills and to improve vocabulary.
• To encourage creative and imaginary play.
• To develop self-confidence, self-awareness, and self-esteem.
• Talking about the different characters and roles you dress up in can improve general knowledge.
• To develop bilateral integration, fine motor skills, and motor planning skills.
• Playing together is a wonderful bonding and connecting experience.
We thank Liz Senior for the contents of this blog.
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For more information about Clamber Club and the programmes we offer visit https://www.clamberclub.com.
TODDLER CLASSES: is a gross motor and sensory stimulation program for children between the ages of 1 – 3 years. Created by occupational therapists, Clamber Club toddlers focuses on movement as the foundation for learning. Agre appropriate programs are filled with activities and games designed to stimulate toddlers’ senses and promote gross motor skills as they learn through movement and music. Clamber Club toddlers encourages active learning through lesson plans that are fun and varied, fostering a lifelong love of learning and exercise.
SPORTS FOR SCHOOLS: is a sensory and gross motor programme developed by occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and sports coaches. Weekly 30-minute classes at your school keep children engaged in a variety of activities to exercise their perceptual and gross motor skills, which prepare them for school readiness and early sports skills needed for future academic success.
PARTIES: At Clamber Club PARTIES we take the hassle and stress out of kids’ parties so you can have just as much fun at your little one’s next big bash. Clamber Club Parties offers the best action-based entertainment and obstacle courses for children ages 1-10. Watch kids have the time of their lives as they clamber and climb over our wide range of amazing equipment. Entertainment for every occasion – whether it’s a birthday party, a corporate function, or a school fun day, we offer tailor made packages to suit your budget and needs.
BABY CLASSES BABIES: What happens in your babies’ early years sets the foundation for everything that follows in their early milestone development. Clamber Club has created a series of in-depth developmental programs to encourage early stimulation, bonding, and active play, where experience influences brain development. Early childhood is about laying a solid foundation to serve as a base for later development. Clamber Club’s holistic weekly program for babies promotes early stimulation through exciting informative class themes, engaging music and a wide range of unique equipment.