Hopping

Hopping is a more advanced skill than jumping as it requires balance and strength. Children between the age of 5 and 7 should show marked improvement in speed, control and technique. Hopping is a good indicator of being able to maintain balance while moving, which is often referred to as dynamic balance. This is a difficult skill for kindergarten children who still may be learning to jump.

Checklist of skill criteria:
- Support leg bends on landing, then straightens to push off
- Lands and pushes off on the ball of the foot
- Non-support leg bent and swings in rhythm with the support leg
- Head and trunk stable, eyes focused forward
- Arms bent and swing forward as support leg pushes off
- Able to hop on both left and right legs
Teaching Strategies
For beginners (at the emergent level of hopping skill development):
- Focus on skill criteria number 1 & 2
- Start by practicing balancing on one leg
- Hold hands with child when attempting to hop to help with balance
- See how many hops in a row
- Try hopping through and around obstacles
- Have a go hopping on the other leg
- Play games such as Wicked Witch and What the Time Mr Wolf
For children at the developing level of hopping skill development:
- Encourage children to achieve greater distance in their hops by hopping over obstacles such as hoops or small cones
- Introduce the use of the arms to generate power
- Hopping can be very tiring so break activities up with running, side stepping, skipping etc.
- Play hopping games such as Hopping Dodge Ball and Rob the Nest with hopping obstacles
For children at the acquired or accomplished level of hopping skill development:
- Try out some Hopping Patterns, children can follow feet markers (L, L, R, L, R, R, R)
- Introduce Hop, Step and Jump into a long jump pit
- Play some hopping games - Stork Tag


Teaching Cues
- Quiet landings (bend ankles, knees and hips)
- Bend your leg to push off
- Head up and eyes forward (look towards where you are hopping)
- Swing & spring
Common Errors
- Unable to maintain balance for consecutive hops
- Landing with stiff ankles, knees and hips – you may hear a slap when they land
- Hold swing leg stiffly to front, side or back
- Arms not actively moving to assist the action