Music and motion are an important aspect of Airports. Place safety cones 2 feet from the corners in a gymnasium or other large play space. Explain to the children that you will turn on music, and when they hear it begin, it will be their cue to begin "flying" around the room as the aircraft of their choice. Tell them they are not allowed to crash and that they must watch out for the other air traffic. As the music plays, the children zoom around the room. When you stop the music, it is their cue to come in for a landing at the airport (safety cone) nearest them. Instruct them to begin a descent by slowing down and lowering their body to a stop close to the airport cone. Restart the music and continue the game. Encourage the kids to pretend to be all sorts of different aircraft, from helicopters and gliders to jets and rocket ships.
Ball-Hop challenges young kids to jump over lined-up balls, hurdle-style without bumping them. Place six, 5-inch rubber balls in a vertical line, spaced 15 inches apart outside in a grassy area, or indoors in a large carpeted room. Line the children up and let them take turns with jumping over the balls. Have them run to the end of the line when they are done to wait for another turn. Challenge the kids by moving the balls farther apart so that they need to run to the next ball before hopping over it.
Get those upper-body muscles working with a musical streamer dancing activity. Borrow a CD of lively children's music from the library, or buy kid's music in the electronics section of most discount department stores. Select a compilation of classic children's tunes or music from kids' artists like Raffi or The Wiggles. Choose a tune that changes tempo once or twice. Assemble your dancers in a circle and give each child a yard-long, 3-inch wide length of ribbon. Tell the children to stretch out their arms so that they are sure there is enough room to dance without hitting anyone else. Teach the youngsters to hold the streamer in both hands and move it in rhythm to the music. Try dancing with the ribbon in one hand and then the other. Let one child dance alone inside the circle while the rest of the children sit and watch. At your cue, have the lone dancer tag another child to take his place inside the circle. Make sure all the children take turns at solo streamer dancing.