When I was studying to be a Rhythm Kids and Baby Massage instructor, I was surprised by a fact that has always stuck with me: in our age of health and safety and what ever else, kids no longer roll down hills like they used to and this is a very big problem.
Rolling does a few different things for a child’s development. It aids in:
- Vestibular Development which they need to improve their balance
- Midline Crossover helps us become physically better coordinated and mentally with the act of thinking, and later reading.
- Sensory Development, which helps in creating understanding of the world – like up and down, and danger or hazards and risk taking.
- Gross Motor Development as we build strength
- and proprioception, the tactile understanding of space.
Big words, and I’m sure you’ll agree all valuable skills that we never really think about, but just take for granted.
Of course, you can learn most of these thing in other ways too, but rolling down hills is just so much fun.
My friend Yasmin and I threw caution to the wind and joined them in rolling down the hills one day. I can’t remember the last time I laughed as much as we did then, and I think the suited men in their meeting in the fancy building behind us were secretly wishing they could do the same! (Or really glad their wives would never do anything like that!)
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Tell me that didn’t bring a smile to your face!
No, there is definitely value to rolling down hills. It’s good for kids, and it’s fun.
I heartily recommend it!
We’re completing the National Trust’s #50Things campaign because, well, it’s great. This was number 2: Roll down a hill on their list. You can see the full list here.
Five Reasons Kids Must Roll Down Hills http://t.co/5Sioa8bJYQ @nationaltrust #50things
Five Reasons Kids Must Roll Down Hills http://t.co/WzQUbvWk9u #23years #34years #45 #50things #byage #homelearning