Animal Walks

Animal Walks

Here's an activity guide for physical development focusing on strength and endurance through animal walks for a home-educated child with limited resources:

1. Warm-up: Begin with a 5–10-minute warm-up to get the body ready for exercise. This can include jogging in place, jumping jacks, or marching in place.

2. Clear the Space: Make sure you have a clear and safe space to perform the animal walks. Move any furniture or objects that may obstruct movement.

3. Animal Walks Setup: Set up a designated area for the animal walks. This can be a hallway, living room, or any open space in your home.

4. Animal Walks Routine: Perform a variety of animal walks, focusing on different muscle groups and movement patterns. Here are a few examples:

       1. Bear Crawl: Get down on all fours with your hands and feet on the ground. Keep your back flat and crawl forward, moving opposite hand and foot together.

       2. Crab Walk: Sit on the ground with your hands behind you and fingers pointing towards your feet. Lift your hips off the ground and walk sideways, using your hands and feet to move.

       3. Frog Jumps: Start in a squat position with your feet shoulder-width apart. Jump forward, landing softly in a squat position, and repeat.

       4. Duck Walk: Squat down low with your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your chest up and walk forward, maintaining the squat position.

       5. Inchworm: Stand tall, then bend forward at the waist and place your hands on the ground. Walk your hands forward until you are in a plank position, then walk your feet towards your hands. Repeat.

5. Circuit Style: Perform each animal walk for a set distance or time, then move on to the next one. For example, crawl 10 feet as a bear, then crab walk 10 feet, and so on. Rest for 15-30 seconds between each animal walk.

6. Repeat and Progress: Depending on the child's fitness level, aim to complete 2-3 rounds of the animal walks circuit. As the child becomes more comfortable and stronger, you can increase the distance or time for each animal walk.

7. Cool-down and Stretching: After completing the animal walks, cool down with some light stretching exercises. Focus on stretching the major muscle groups used during the activity, such as the shoulders, hips, and legs.

8. Stay Hydrated: Remind the child to drink water before, during, and after the workout to stay hydrated.

9. Consistency and Progression: Encourage the child to perform animal walks 2-3 times per week, gradually increasing the intensity or duration as they become fitter and stronger.

10. Have Fun and Be Creative: Encourage the child to embrace their imagination and have fun with the animal walks. They can even create their own animal movements and incorporate them into the routine.

Remember, safety is paramount. Ensure that the child maintains proper form and technique throughout the animal walks to prevent injury. Enjoy the animal walks and have fun while improving strength and endurance!