Articles about age-appropriate games and developmental movement
How to teach anything: a primer on classroom management
In his 1914 book, “Teaching Gymnastics”, Wellesley College professor William Skarstrom included a chapter on teaching
and classroom management which I believe contains a treasure trove of wisdom
and pointers for the teacher of any subject, i.e. not only the teacher of
gymnastics, by any means. This lengthy article includes the last two pages from
the introductory chapter, and then (with a little abridgement of
gymnastics-specific material) Chapter II, presenting...
Safety Rules - Providing Structure in Gym Class
Over the years at Aurora Waldorf School, I have found it helpful to take time
during the first Gym class of the year, to read and explain the following “code of conduct” to each grade, and then to make sure students know where these rules are
posted. For grades 1, 2 and 3, children seem to like to know that they’re going to have “manners class” right along with Gym. For older grades, the wording can be simplified but the
same rules need repeating... usually several times a year.
How much creeping and crawling does it take to prepare a child for school? Many
child development specialists believe that tens of thousands (perhaps as many
as 50,000) crawling type steps are needed to properly myelinate the brain for
academic readiness.
Copper rod exercises can support academic progress of grade school children,
including physiology that supports writing and reading; direction, rhythm and
sequencing (related to math); and more!
A guide for class teachers, phys ed teachers, and parents.essentials for any
teacher.
(Book review) In the light of continuing growth of “attention deficit” and “hyperactivity” diagnoses, one of the most important topics in this book is rough and tumble
play as a necessary developmental activity, perhaps especially for boys.
“Is my child ready for team sports?” “Will my child be left behind if he or she doesn’t get going on a team?” If you’re asking questions like this, here are five possible areas to be considered.
There are many, many things childhood can be filled with, that are actually much
better than the‘normal’ activities like media and highly organized team sports. Here you can begin to
explore classic games to play with or show your children.
Children in Martial Arts: the Cost - by Kim John Payne
There are many, many things childhood can be filled with, that are actually much
better than the‘normal’ activities like media and highly organized team sports. Here you can begin to
explore classic games to play with or show your children.
Children in Ballet: Strung Up, Strung Out - by Kim John Payne
To encourage children to take up ballet is to impose an adultified concept of
beauty on those that have no need of it. If the child is repeatedly exposed to
this form of training, he will eventually begin to adopt the adult values of
the dancer; this is to invite emotional disturbance and to restrict the child’s full experience of childhood.
“Scientists who study play, in animals and humans alike, are developing a
consensus view that play is something more than a way for restless kids to work
off steam; more than a way for chubby kids to burn off calories; more than a
frivolous luxury. Play, in their view, is a central part of neurological growth
and development — one important way that children build complex, skilled, responsive, socially
adept and cognitively flexible brains.” From an article titled“Taking Play Seriously” in the Feb. 17, 2008 New York Times Magazine
