Movement activity gives children the opportunity to develop gross motor, or large muscle, skills. This includes balance, coordination and strength. Movement activities can help keep young children physically healthy, fight off obesity and disease and start them on a life-long path of fitness. Other benefits include emotional and social development. Gaining the ability to use physical movements to express emotions as well as restraint and self-control can help the young child deal with or understand emotions, while group movement activities allows preschoolers to share physical space and follow social rules.
Structured movement activities include class-based lessons in which the teacher has specific movements that she expects the child to do. Younger preschoolers who are 3 and 4 years old can start with some basic games, such as walking backward toward your voice. Clear a safe space and ask the children to follow your voice as they take careful steps backward to you. Give them directions to follow such as, "Move one small step toward the wall" or, "Take two long steps." Other structured activities that will appeal to both younger and older preschoolers include funny or themed walks such as a crab walk on the palms of the hands and feet or animal gallops.
Dancing might be difficult without music, but kids can still get up and move around without a ready made beat. Preschoolers can enjoy unstructured or free non-musical movement activities such as running outdoors, jumping on a soft carpeted area or waving their arms. Unstructured activities provide young children with the freedom to explore their own abilities without the restrictions of a specific game.
Without the added effect of instruments or song, young children may easily bore with some non-musical movement activities. Spark their interest by using a creative prop. Dance ribbons or streamers can help little ones to explore motion and build upper body coordination. Other fun props include hoops to roll and bean bags to toss and balance. If you are really looking to spice up your non-musical movement lesson give the preschoolers glow sticks. Invite them to make large arm motions as they wave the sticks around in a slightly dim room.