All children like to copy and imitate adults every day. One great activity you can explore with your child is Follow the Leader. Here are three simple steps to show you how to play Follow the Leader.
Step 1.
Start the game by explaining to your child they have to copy the things you do. Show them what you mean with an example. Make sure your actions are not too advanced. Remember, your child has to be able to carry out the moves safely.
Step 2.
When you chose your moves, you must make sure your child is confident to carry the moves out too. This will encourage your child to engage in the game more. Once they have got to grips with understanding the game, you can challenge your child by making your movements a little harder to follow. This will help them explore higher boundaries.
Here is a great list of movements to include in your game:
- Clap
- Crawl
- Walk
- Run
- Climb a hill
- Hop
- Skip
- Jump
- Gallop
- March
- Spin
- Twist
- Walk on tiptoe
- Stomp
- Roll
- Wiggle
- Fly like an airplane
Step 3.
If your child starts to get a little tired, you can start to use slower and calmer moves to wind down. This will help your child start to relax from a fun filed energetic game.
This game is good to play changing the roles around. Let your child be a leader and tell the adult what moves to use. Not only will this give them a chance to be a leader, it will also give them confidence to feel they have achieved something.
Top Tips for playing Follow the Leader
- Start with something your baby is already doing, like banging a fist on the table.
- Increase the challenge by adding new and more complex movements, but pay attention to your baby’s reactions. Scale back if your child seems frustrated—the activity should be fun.
Skills learned: Imitation, back-and-forth conversation, memory