Requirements
- Large indoor or outdoor space free of obstacles
Instructions
- Talk with your preschool child about horses. How do horses move?
- Tell your child that you will practice galloping like a horse
- Show your child how to gallop
- One foot steps forward, and the trailing foot immediately “kicks” forward to almost touch the back of the front foot
- Ask your child to gallop with you around the house or playground
Tip: Make horse “whinny” noises as you gallop
Tip: If you have paper ribbon or streamers, take turns using them as horse reins – you can “pull” your child as you gallop, and your child can “pull” you as you gallop
Tip: Galloping comes before Skipping
Variations
- Play “Follow the Leader” as horses – this makes galloping into a game
Benefits
This activity develops dynamic balance, coordination, and rhythm required for activities at older ages such as running, skipping, hopping, and dancing
