Skip to My Lou

Children playing jump rope

Develop jump rope skills in this fun game for older, or more proficient skippers. Skip to My Lou is a good progression from Jump Rope. Visit this game on the KIDDO website to learn how to simply breakdown the skill of skipping.

Set up

Designate a playing space free of obstructions, with enough room for children to skip and move around in. Give each child a skipping rope. A rope is the appropriate size for a child if the handles reach up to their armpits while they are standing on it and pulling the handles up.

How to play
Step 1:
  • When the children are spread out in the space, begin skipping with the rope 
    • Children can see how many skips they can do without catching their feet, or how many they can do in 1 minute
Step 2:
  • Introduce skipping challenges - ideas include;
    • Jump on one foot instead of two
    • Criss cross the feet, or the rope
    • Jump with a partner (one holds the rope)
    • You (and a helper) twirl a long rope and children must run through it
    • You (and a helper) twirl a long rope and all children must continue jumping until a mistake is made
    • Run and skip at the same time
    • Twirl the rope 2x before landing
    • Twirl the rope backwards
Variations
Make it easier
  • Try out Jump Rope on the KIDDO website to help introduce skipping
Make it harder
  • Try Double Dutch skipping!
Activity information
Age: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6
Equipment: Skipping ropes
Duration: 10 minutes
Skill focus
Explore these skills for teaching tips
Skill teaching

To learn jump rope, first practice without equipment. Encourage children to;

  1. Keep their eyes up
  2. Bend their knees when jumping
  3. Soft landings

Skip to My Lou is a good progression from Jump Rope. Visit this game on the KIDDO website to learn how to simply breakdown the skill of skipping.

Physical literacy tips
  • Allow children space to explore how they feel comfortable with a skipping rope
  • Set up free-skipping stations for confident children, or stations with intentional skipping activities to guide less confident children