Mat Exercises: Brain-Building Animal Exercises for Gross Motor Development and Higher Learning

By: Integrated Learning Strategies

Seal Walk – Place hands on mat, straighten arms and lock your elbows – Extend legs behind your upper body (limp legs so they are more floppy instead of stiff) – Walk forward with your hands on the mat, dragging legs and toes behind – Swing body from side to side

Gorilla Walk – Begin by standing with feet shoulder-width apart (to make the exercise more difficult, have child squat close to the floor) – Bend trunk forward slightly and hang arms in front – Walk forward like a gorilla (slow steps, controlled)

Frog Jump – Squat low to the floor and put hands on the mat in front of the knees – Jump forward on all four’s (large spring) – Land back in squat position

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