As parents, it's important to encourage and support our children's physical development, and jumping is a great activity for building strength, coordination, and balance. At Mini Monstars we are always trying to focus on these sorts of activities. One of our favourite variation of jumping that is especially fun for kids is the "motorbike landing." This involves jumping from a height and landing in a squat or "motorbike" position, using the arms to create the illusion of riding a motorcycle.
When teaching your child to jump and land in this way, it's important to start small and gradually work your way up to higher jumps. It's far better to start the children off that something that is way to easy then something that is way to hard. This will help your child feel confident and in control, and reduce the risk of injury. To get started, you'll need a safe object to jump off of, such as a low bench or stack of cushions, and a flat landing surface.
When jumping, it's important to follow the proper coaching cues:
Begin by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms at your sides.
Bend your knees and reach your arms back.
Extend your knees and swing your arms forward as you jump off the object.
When you land, absorb the impact by bending your knees and keeping your arms out in front of you, as if you're riding a motorcycle.
It's important to emphasise safety and control when teaching your child to jump and land in this way. Encourage your child to take their time, focus on good form, and not to jump too high until they feel confident and comfortable. This is why we like to use regressions (Making the activity easier) if we see a child is struggling with an activity.
Jumping and motorbike landing can be a fun and rewarding activity for children and parents alike. By following these coaching cues, you can help your child develop strength, coordination, and balance while having fun and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
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