Walk the Tightrope
Here's What To Do
1
Place a thick, long line of tape on the ground for your child to walk on.
2
Tell your child that you are going to practice walking carefully on the tightrope or balance beam, just like an acrobat or gymnast might.
3
Demonstrate how to walk on the tightrope line.
4
As your child gains more confidence, they can try moving in more challenging ways. For example, they can hop on one foot along the line or walk backwards.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Take deep breaths together first to help you focus.
E
Engage:
- “Let’s walk the tightrope together.”
- “We have to try to balance and stay on the line, one foot in front of the other as we walk.”
E
Encourage:
- With your child, brainstorm encouraging things they can say to themselves as they persist on the tightrope. For example, “I’m proud of myself. I’m learning something new. I can keep trying.”
- Provide tips to help them balance such as by having their arms outstretched, or moving more slowly.
R
Reflect:
- “How did it feel to walk the tightrope?”
Not quite ready?
Create a wider tape line to make it easier to walk on the line.
Ready for more?
Create more challenging tightrope lines with the tape, such as zigzags.
As your child masters this skill...
They’ll demonstrate balance, coordination and control while moving.