Jumping and Jumping Jacks – When Should My Child Be Doing These Skills

Here are 6 steps to support your child in mastering the skill of JUMPING JACKS:

1. Use a mirror – Being able to visually reference the reflection of the body while learning a motor skill can be extremely helpful in understanding where the body parts are in space. Have your child stand in front of a mirror while doing the below movements.
2. Jumping in place – Jumping multiple times in place is essential as jumping jacks require endurance and one to stay in one place without falling.  See how many times your child can jump, in succession, at a constant rate.
3. Moving only the arms – See the below picture (just arms): have your child stand with arms at his/her side and then move them above the head for a “clap”. Practice 10 times.
4. Moving only the legs – See the below picture (just legs): have your child stand with legs together and then jump and move them to a slight straddle/apart. Practice 10 times.
5. Put steps 3 and 4 together, emphasizing “position 1” as legs being together and arms at the side and “position 2” as the legs being apart and the arms touching for a clap above the head.  Go slow, practice the two positions.
6. Speed the process up – Now try doing it in front of the mirror faster so that each position is a jump, back and forth.