Activities Involving Hula Hoops for Preschoolers
Preschoolers have boundless energy and are ready to learn new skills at a rapid pace. Hula hoops offer excellent ways to work with preschool children on developing motor skills, following directions, problem solving, and number and color identification. Activities employing hula hoops are easy to set up and direct. These fun games are fine ways to get preschoolers moving and learning at the same time.
Grouping
This activity strengthens preschoolers' concept of numbers as well as helping them learn group and develop problem-solving skills. Set up five to 10 hula hoops at various areas on the floor. You'll need fewer hula hoops for a smaller group and more for a larger one. Instruct your group to walk or skip around the room without stepping into the hoops as music plays. When the music stops, call out a number. The students must then get into the hoops in groups of the same number. For instance, if you call out three, the children must get into groups of three inside the hoops. Tell them that if there are people left over, they can get into a hoop and hold the correct number up on their fingers.
Find the Color
This activity targets motor skills and color identification. Give each student a bean bag with a number on it. You might want to jot down which child has which number in case they forget during the activity. Place colored hula hoops on the floor. Instruct the children to walk or skip around the room while music is playing; they will be holding their bean bags as they do this. When the music stops, call out a color. The students then must toss their bean bags into a hoop of that color. You can do this for fun, or you can keep score by giving each student who lands his bag in the hoop a point.
Moving with Hoops
This is an outdoor activity that works on motor skills and following directions. Give each child a hula hoop and have her stand with plenty of space between students. Demonstrate to the children how hula hoops can be swung around the waist or other parts of the body. Also demonstrate how you can jump in and out of hoop that's on the ground. Call out a body part (such as the waist) and have the students try to spin the hoop around that part of the body. Most won't be able to do so, but they should be able to spin it a time or two. Blow a whistle after they've practiced for a while, and call out another body part, such as "leg." Continue this for a while and try adding a time in which they can choose what to do with the hoop. You also can have them jump in and out of the hoops on your command. Try using a drum or just clapping a slow, steady beat at first and have them jump on the beat. You can speed up or slow down to keep the activity interesting.
Tags: hula hoops, motor skills, Activities Involving, Activities Involving Hula, around room, bean bags