Last summer I read an
article called ‘Why Hopscotch Matters’ posted on http://movingsmartblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/why-hopscotch-matters.html,
which I linked to from @movingsmart. This post did a fantastic job of breaking
down why playing hopscotch is good for children. What first caught my attention
was how this game helps midline development. In other words by hopping on one
foot a child develops more concrete connections between the right and left
hemispheres of the brain, which in turn have a positive impact on learning,
creativity, and social development. The rest of the article convinced me that
this ‘game’ should be brought back to our school.
Last weekend, my husband and
I painted two hopscotch courts on the playground for the students to use during
recess and this week students are learning how to play hopscotch. I wasn’t sure how well this ‘new’ game
would be received especially by the boys, but so far everyone has been
captivated.
As I supervise students
practicing the hops and jumps, and watch the personal interactions between
students, it’s as if I am watching the “wheels” turn as they preplan motor
movements for themselves and anticipate what the other students are doing while
completing the course. One student
reached the number 5 and the other children who were waiting their turn began
clapping and congratulating that student for doing well. High fives all around!
The looks of concentration
and even frustration turned to smiles of accomplishment and confidence as each
student began to master the different skills necessary to be successful.
