Like an Elephant!
Parent guides child through an imaginative elephant walk that strengthens upper and lower body muscles, followed by a run to a flag. The agent coaches the parent to observe cross-lateral coordination, dynamic balance during animal imitation, and running form with bent elbows — building foundational gross motor skills through playful movement.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Clear space for movement. Place a flag/marker on one side of the room. Child should be wearing comfortable clothes that allow free movement. Parent positioned to demonstrate and observe.
How it works
- 1~45s
First, show your child how to be an elephant! Get down on hands and feet with your hips held high — like you're making a bridge. Then take big, slow steps forward, bending your knees and alternating hands and feet. Encourage your child to copy you. Watch closely as they moves — does your child maintain balance while walking in this position? Can they take five steady steps without wobbling or putting knees down?
Watch for: Child demonstrates dynamic balance and strength during elephant walk, showing control similar to climbing movements.
- 2~30s
Now for the fun part! After those five elephant steps, have your child stand up and run to the flag. As they runs, watch their arm movements closely. Do their arms swing naturally opposite to their legs — right arm forward with left leg, and left arm with right leg? This cross-lateral coordination is key for efficient running.
Watch for: Child demonstrates opposite arm-leg movement while running, showing developing cross-lateral coordination.
- 3~40s
Let's do one more round — elephant walk then run! This time, focus on your child's elbow position during the run. Do their elbows stay bent at about 90 degrees, or do they straighten out? Bent elbows help with efficient arm swing and balance. Also notice if your child seems to enjoy the transition from slow elephant to fast runner — that dynamic movement control is great for motor development.
Watch for: Child maintains bent elbows while running, showing developing running efficiency and upper body coordination.