Close &
Far
Learning about body awareness is knowing where your body exists in space in relation to other objects or people. It keeps us grounded and guides us as we navigate our movements. Developing that awareness as a child is important as they establish things like balance, motor skills, and hand-eye coordination.
Activity: Space Around Us
Skill Focus: Learning body awareness and spatial concepts: understanding what it means to be close and far from objects and people.
What You Will Need:
• Open space (indoor or outdoor)
• A soft ball or stuffed animal
• A hula hoop (or any item that can create a boundary) • A willing parent, sibling, or friend
Instructions:
1. Close and Far Hunt Walk with your child and identify things nearby (close) and things at a distance (far). You can do this in your backyard, park, or even indoors.
2. Ball Toss Game Stand close to your child and gently toss a ball. Then, move far away and toss again. Talk about how the movement changes as you adjust your distance.
3. Hula Hoop Space Game Place a hula hoop on the ground and have your child stand inside it (close). Then have them step or hop outside the hoop (far).
Extension Ideas:
• Animal Imitation: Pretend to be animals that move close (like a snail) or far (like a deer jumping in the woods).
Why This Matters: Understanding spatial awareness helps children move safely and confidently in their environment. This skill is essential for everyday activities like playing with others, walking in crowds, and even learning concepts like measurement and distance in school.
Parent Tip: Use simple words like “close” and “far” during daily activities. For example, “Your toy is close to your bed!” or “The car is far down the street.” Playfully practice boundaries, like giving others personal space (close vs. too close!). Praise your child when they demonstrate good body awareness, like avoiding bumping into furniture. Revisit the concept with different activities to reinforce learning through repetition and play.
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