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Jump like a kangaroo, hop like a frog. Next time your child is up and moving around, challenge them to a game of imagination. Can you jump like a kangaroo? How does a frog jump? How many different animals can you and your child pretend to be?

If your baby has started to crawl, this game will challenge them and introduce them to lots of textures. Lay out a course using things from around your home. You can use things like different textured bathmats, some cushions to crawl over, a large box to crawl through, a footstool to crawl around or an old shower curtain or fluffy blanket to crawl on. Encourage your baby to

Most children love to challenge themselves physically and explore the different ways they can move around, through and over different objects. You might find your child likes to try and balance on or along lines or other surfaces. Next time you are outside with your child or walking somewhere, encourage them to try a bit of balancing.

Can you run and touch that tree? Next time you are all outside you can play a game with lots of actions. Ask your child to follow your instructions, but keep it simple at first. Can you run to that tree? Can you walk to the fence? Okay, now crawl back to me. Try to think of lots of different ways to get your child moving. Younger children can walk, crawl and run.

There are many different ways you can move about. You can crawl, run, jump, roll or climb. You can climb up, over, under and through things. Next time you are outside, at the park or moving about talk to your child about the different things they can climb. We are going to the park with the big trees and logs. When we get there you can climb up the trees or over the logs.

Move, move, freeze! Have you ever shown your child a statue? They don’t move. Can your child stand as still as a statue? If your child isn’t already up and moving, encourage them to get started. You could sing as they move or play some music. Work out a way to tell them when to stop. You could use a word like freeze or stop.

It’s raining it’s pouring, everything’s wet and boring…The weather has changed and winter has arrived. Often when this happens and the rain rolls in it is hard to find things to do outside to keep your child busy and active. Rain puddles are just made for jumping. You can try jumping over puddles with your child.

Playing with balls outside provides children with the opportunity to catch and throw, roll and kick, push, punch and chase after the ball. As the ball moves, talk about the way it is moving. Is it moving along the ground at a fast pace or bouncing up and down on the same spot? Can you roll the ball under the chair or throw it at a target on the shed?

Children often experiment with moving their bodies in different ways. They might move in time to music or try and fit their bodies inside different spaces. Sometimes they will try and figure out how to move without using their legs and feet. Next time you are near a hill encourage your child to experiment with different ways to roll down the hill.

Will we go up? Will we go down? Can you jump from the top down to the ground? Next time you are out and about and see some steps, encourage your child to climb them. As you help your child go up and down you could count how many steps there are or talk about which direction you are going. Let's start at the bottom of the steps and climb to the top.