Jump and Learn

Want to learn a great way to spice up learning, especially with how to read and spelling practice? Try this jump and learn game! It’s simple to set up and it’s actually a much more effective way to learn academics than the traditional seated practice (and a lot more fun too!).

This activity is more effective because your child is not simply memorizing academic concepts, but rather learning through whole body movements which will help the child to better recall the content.  This activity also gives your child great proprioceptive input which is essential for:  improved body awareness, increased attention, improved posture and tone, improved coordination, decreased stress levels, AND all the health benefits associated with exercise.

Who Should Play This Game

This activity is wonderful for ALL kids, and especially perfect for kids who struggle with sitting down to do their work and are more active movers.   Kids of all ages can play this game too because the learning content can be so easily adapted to whatever concepts your child is working on such as shapes, colors, numbers, time, math facts, etc…

Materials You Need

Index card sized paper

Tape

Mini Trampoline (optional)

How you Play 

For Early Academics (pick a academic concept such as shapes, numbers, letters, colors, etc..)

The example below shows how you would play using reading as the academic concept 

1. Start small by using only 6-10  index cards and write one letter on each card (*Note, use letters that can be used in multiple words such as rhyming or word family words)

2. Tape the letters on the wall at a height that’s tall enough so your child has to jump up and touch them yet short enough so they can still see the letters easily.

3. Next, tell the child a word to spell and have him just up and touch one letter at a time to spell the word.

4. (Optional) The child can use a mini trampoline to jump up and touch the letters if desired.

For More Advanced Literacy:

1.Follow the same steps as above but use more index cards (15-26)

2. Practice spelling words in this manner to help homework time go faster and more efficiently!

Hopefully, you and your child will find more “hoppy-ness” in this game versus traditional seated learning! Leave me a comment and let me know how this worked for your child!