The activity, described in the method, literally gets toddlers moving while playfully introducing the four components: movement, grounding, relaxation and breathing.
Using cheerful storyboards, a story about the little animals from Peuterbeweging is told to the toddlers. Afterwards, under the guidance of their childcare professional, the toddlers actively experience and act out the story.
The activity has been developed in the method so that the childcare professional needs very little preparation. The implementation is also straightforward.
The method
When developing the stories, the 10 motor skills (Knowledge Centre for Sport and Exercise) and the 4 S's test (W. van Gelder, H. Stroes, revised 2015) were used as guiding principles. This was chosen in order to create a balanced movement activity tailored to the target group. As a result, the Peuterbeweging method connects with movement programmes and tests such as those commonly used in primary education.
The method always works with the same animal characters: parrot, hippopotamus, lion, frog and snake. Each animal has its own qualities and character traits linked to the four components. The stories are connected to common themes used in childcare.
The Peuterbeweging activity can easily be incorporated into the daily routine at a daycare centre using the method. Peuterbeweging is great fun because the toddlers really enjoy it. In half an hour, they have released their excess energy, become more relaxed and feel better, both literally and figuratively.
Each story in the method consists of general instructions, ten storyboards, instructions for the activity and a cheat sheet to use during the activity. Four themed stories are always bundled together in one folder.
Firefighter Olga Elephant
The opening image features one of the main characters, Firefighter Olga Elephant. In this story, she takes decisive action when a fire breaks out at the animals' barbecue.
The Peuterbeweging Professions folder can be ordered here. The Gezonde Leefstijl Op School website has previously published articles about Peuterbeweging. You can find them here.
More information about the Peuterbeweging method can be found at www.peuterbeweging.nl