Running through the house

[AmandaKDT]

I think gross motor is important and like you said they need to burn off their energy. That being said, I do believe there are productive ways of doing this in an adult led activity not running around in circles or legging it from one end of the room and back with no purpose.

I'm not sure if this is a criticism of what I do (one of the problems of things being in written form) but I believe that running just for the sake and joy of running is great and should be encouraged - of course in a supervised way to ensure safety. I am trained in physical education and have taught phys Ed in school. I am also quite strict and the kids know exactly what is allowed and what is not. My home is not a house full of crazy running arounds kids. Not everything has to be a structured adult led activity...in fact, I guess encouraging them to run around the sofa while skipping, hopping, going in slow motion, etc. is a structured activity that develops gross motor skills...so...

[bright sparks]

I'm not sure if this is a criticism of what I do (one of the problems of things being in written form) but I believe that running just for the sake and joy of running is great and should be encouraged - of course in a supervised way to ensure safety. I am trained in physical education and have taught phys Ed in school. I am also quite strict and the kids know exactly what is allowed and what is not. My home is not a house full of crazy running arounds kids. Not everything has to be a structured adult led activity...in fact, I guess encouraging them to run around the sofa while skipping, hopping, going in slow motion, etc. is a structured activity that develops gross motor skills...so...

Ah yes, written form being misinterpreted. Not a criticism, just my opinion. I also believe that not all activities need to be adult led, but I think it is one thing to run around and have fun independently and quite another to just run around in circles mindlessly. Running in a much wider open space such as a gymnasium or outside space is also different. If going around the sofa while having an adult coax them into skipping, hopping jumping, then I do believe this is much more productive. It is one thing for a 3 or 4 year old to be running around busy in their imagination, chasing butterflies, running from a dragon or playing chase with a friend, but when they are just whizzing around and around and around I still think their are much more constructive ways of gross motor activities and burning off that energy. By adult led, I don't by any means mean constant adult involvement, but maybe adult initiated or adult guided to encourage and promote the learning of skills and safe practice and then sitting back and allowing them to develop self-confidence and independence is a very important part of our role.

[godsgirl]

Thanks guys! It's frustrating because once I let them walk around following each other it always turns into full out running and somebody ALWAYS gets hurt whether it's them smashing into each other, someone tripping and flying into a kitchen cabinet, other kids getting knocked over, etc. This winter has been absolutely awful which totally makes sense because my group last year started bouncing off the walls too around January. However, these last 2 days have been nice enough for us to go outside and the running has definitely slowed down in the afternoons. C'mon spring!!

[daycaremom9]

When I find that the kids are running a lot I will have them " practice walking feet". I have them retrace their steps with walking feet. It seems to work, if only temporarily.