Galloping
Galloping helps develop leg strength, coordination and dynamic balance and endurance. Galloping starts before the skill of skipping and initially may look choppy like uneven running. Children as young as two years can demonstrate a beginning level of galloping.
Demonstrate or show children pictures of people galloping. Let children have a go and come up with their own version of galloping initially. Use KIDDO’s teaching vocabulary:
- Step-together-step
- Toe to heel
- Same foot is always at the front
The fully developed gallop has the following characteristics:
- Lead leg stays in front
- Hips face the front
- Trail leg lands beside or slightly behind lead leg
Join in if you can, galloping can be fun! Try asking questions such as:
- What animals gallop?
- Can you gallop fast/slow/high?
- Lets gallop around the yard
- Can you teach me to gallop?
Provide space for children to gallop around the outdoor/indoor area. Try some of the ideas below to encourage children to engage in galloping:
- Let children create obstacles to gallop around and over
- Have galloping relays
- Try making horse noises as you gallop around
Try playing some of KIDDO’s fun and age-appropriate activities to encourage children to develop and explore the skill of galloping:
- Animal walks – call out different animals and children move around the area like that animal
- Musical balances – gallop to the music and when the music stops make an animal balance pose
- Follow the leader– follow the leader as you gallop, jump and balance around your environment
Children as young as two can display the skill of galloping.
- Initial gallopers show a gallop that is choppy and lopsided and a
- It looks like a mixture of running and galloping.
- Children will have a favourite leg and can only lead with this one
- As the gallop develops it becomes smoother and flatter
- When fully developed it is a smooth, fluid and rhythmical action
- Children can change direction and can lead with either their left or right leg