3 System-- establishing their sense of balance! #OptOutside #PlayMatters #MovingIsLearning #PlayGrowLearn

1 Children NEED to move! Whole-body movements contribute to learning balance. 3 types work especially well: spinning, rolling and hanging upside down...things kiddos LOVE to do naturally!! When they PLAY this way, #OptOutside #PlayMatters #MovingIsLearning #PlayGrowLearn

2 and spinning-- is good 'brain food' for kidlets! It helps them regulate their bodies, focus and increases their body awareness. #PlayMatters #MovingIsLearning

1 Remember rolling down hills? Such fun! Just this simple kind of play stimulates special receptors in the little “vestibule” of the inner ear and communicates a sense of where our body is in space. This kind of physical activity--plus swinging #PlayMatters #MovingIsLearning

2 their brains record information, forming an understanding of what it feels like to be in and out of balance. The reason is their brains are craving this kind of PLAY is because it stimulates/develops their Vestibular #OptOutside #PlayMatters #MovingIsLearning #PlayGrowLearn

3 one but we were able to double up and share too. #PlayMatters #MovingIsLearning #PhysicalPlay #MakingMemories #GrandmaLove #FamilyLife

Our bodies are meant to MOVE! Making it FUN can make all the difference. Grandbub #1 began with sports being an integral part of his life when he had an introduction of soccer (football) in England and it was all about FUN!#MovingIsLearning #WhatMattersMost #GoodSport #Parenting

3 via ART. Sticks are a natural, FREE open-ended material that encourages kiddos to invent and discover ...and PLAY outside! #PlayMatters #LetThemPlay #OptOutside #MovingIsLearning #grandchildren #GrandmaLove #Parenting

4 Include following actions: 1 hammer: 1 hand hammering 2 hammers: 2 hands hammering 3 hammers: 2 hands&1 foot hammering 4 hammers: 2 hands&2 feet hammering 5 hammers: 2 hands, 2 feet 1 head hammering #LanguageDevelopment #MovingIsLearning #ECE #parenting

1 Water & sand--hours of PLAY right there I tell you! I'm heading down to see sand-loving Grandbub #4 (and Grandbub #1) bringing #2 and #3 along--it's going to be on #PlayMatters #OptOutside #MovingIsLearning #STEM #LifesABeach #SensoryPlay #ECE #preschool #homeschool #parenting

1 The Grandbubs have Dads they will want to grow up like..involved, caring Dads;Dads that work hard to take care of their families. Pillow fights #PlayMatters #HandsOnLearning #LetThemPlay #MovingIsLearning #DadLife #DadAndSon #WhatMattersMost #FamilyLife #GrandmaLove #parenting

2 #OptOutside and move/groove they're able to develop their 6th sense: proprioception...getting a better understanding of their body (and its movement) in space. #PlayMatters #MovingIsLearning #VitaminN #LetThemPlay #KidsDeserveIt #Parenting

3 and ● socially more adept Remember we want to keep our kiddos as SAFE as NECESSARY not as safe as possible. One key component of roughhousing though is the winding down period...don't forget it! #PlayMatters #HandsOnLearning #LetThemPlay #MovingIsLearning #DadLife #DadAndSon

1 Kids & sticks.... Sticks are toys?! Yep, they sure are!! And not 'just' a toy, but an incredibly VERSATILE toy!! Kiddos can use them in so many ways for so many things--transforming #PlayMatters #LetThemPlay #OptOutside #MovingIsLearning #grandchildren #GrandmaLove #Parenting

1 Kiddos LEARN through their senses--being in #MotherNature gives their senses all kinds of info! Info coming in via their eyes,ears,hands/feet,nose...& sometimes mouth...plus when they are able to #PlayMatters #MovingIsLearning #VitaminN #LetThemPlay #KidsDeserveIt #Parenting

1 I still have a hard time accepting I pronounce 'ROOF' differently than the majority of people in my area of the States. Supposedly if you're on the West side you say it as if it rhymes with proof & if you're on the East #LanguageDevelopment #MovingIsLearning #ECE #parenting

2 a stick into a fishing pole, light saber or magic wand; building with them; using them in games; learning about responsibility interacting/caring for a dog via playing fetch; creating #PlayMatters #LetThemPlay #OptOutside #MovingIsLearning #grandchildren #GrandmaLove #Parenting

2 myself AGAIN (the Portugal Camino is coming up) and, sadly, this old grandma doesn't heal-up/rebound like she used to.... These walkers are a fantastic accessory! I had one and my youngest had #PlayMatters #MovingIsLearning #PhysicalPlay #MakingMemories #GrandmaLove #FamilyLife

1 I ❤️ doing fun, active things with my grandbubs...of course since my unfortunate bowling accident a couple months ago (defies credibility even) I have been exceptionally careful not to injure #PlayMatters #MovingIsLearning #PhysicalPlay #MakingMemories #GrandmaLove #FamilyLife

1 Raining outside? Good chance the closer we get to Winter. Getting outside is always important--use the action song below to hunt down puddles while practicing counting. #PlayMatters #OptOutside #HandsOnLearning #MovingIsLearning #LetThemPlay #Parenting