Learn to skip

From the house

• A hallway or a loop around the room
• A bouncy song (optional)

How to play

1. Warm up by marching with high knees, then gallop around the room with one foot in front.
2. Teach the skip: step forward and hop on that foot, then step and hop on the other one.
3. Say “step-hop, step-hop” together in a steady beat while they practice.
4. Skip a loop light on their toes, which is quieter for the neighbors, then try it to a song.

Fit it to your child

• Easier: Hold hands and skip slowly side by side, or keep galloping if skipping hasn’t clicked yet.
• Harder: Skip backwards, or change direction every time you call “Swap!”

Words to use

• step
• hop
• gallop
• swap
• bounce

Why it helps

Skipping makes both legs take turns in a step-hop rhythm, which builds coordination, balance and timing all at once.