Animal Walks (2-3 years)
Six cut-out movement cards -- bear crawl, bunny hop, crab walk, flamingo balance, star jump, giraffe stretch. Pull one from a bag and move.
Materials Needed
- •Printed worksheet (download below)
- •Scissors (grown-up)
- •A bag or box to pull cards from
- •Clear floor space
Safety Reminder:
- •Clear the floor of hard edges and small objects before crawling and hopping starts.
- •Bare feet or grippy socks -- smooth socks on a wooden floor are how toddlers fall.
Duration
5-10 minutes
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Why Crawling Still Matters at Two
Bear crawling and crab walking are cross-lateral movements: the left arm works with the right leg, which makes the two halves of the brain talk to each other. That coordination underpins skills that look completely unrelated -- climbing stairs, later handwriting, even tracking a line of text with the eyes. Animal walks also load the shoulders and hands in a way that ordinary walking never does, which is the quiet foundation of the pencil grip that will matter in three years' time. And the toddler thinks they are being a bear.
- check_circleCross-lateral coordination: opposite arm and leg working together
- check_circleShoulder and core strength: the base that fine motor control is built on
- check_circleBalance: shifting weight onto one foot, wobbling, recovering
- check_circleBody awareness: knowing where your limbs are without looking
- check_circleFollowing a two-step instruction: look at the card, do the movement
Preparation
Print and cut out the six cards. Put them in a bag or upside down on the floor. Clear a run of floor -- hallway to kitchen is plenty.
Instructions
- 1
Pull one card out of the bag. Show it to your child and name the animal.
- 2
Do the walk together, all the way across the room and back. Modelling it yourself is not optional at this age.
- 3
Make the noise. The bear growls. Toddlers commit to a movement far more readily when it comes with a sound.
- 4
Pull the next card. Two or three cards is a complete game.
- 5
Stop while they still want more. This is the whole trick of physical play at 2-3.
- 6
Keep the cards near the door for the next rainy afternoon.
Assistance for Kids and Parents
- arrow_rightDo not correct the form. A wobbly bear crawl is still a bear crawl, and the wobble is where the learning is.
- arrow_rightThe flamingo card will be hard -- most two-year-olds cannot hold one foot up for more than a second. That is expected. Count to two and cheer.
- arrow_rightUse these when a toddler is over-full of energy indoors, before it turns into a meltdown.
- arrow_rightThree cards done joyfully beats six cards done grudgingly. Stop early.
- arrow_rightOlder siblings love running the bag. Let them be the caller.
Variations & Extensions
Simpler Version
Use only two cards -- bear and bunny. Do them again and again. Repetition is the point at this age, not variety.
More Challenge
Chain two cards together: bear crawl to the sofa, then bunny hop back. Sequencing two movements is a genuine step up.
Freeze Version
Play music. When it stops, freeze in the animal shape. Stopping is harder than starting.