2013 Week 19: Tatty Bumpkin's pose for the Week is CRAB!

Sue Heron – Training Co-ordinator Tatty Bumpkin and Paediatric Physiotherapist
 
The pose for this week in Tatty Bumpkin classes is CRAB. In the sessions your child will go with Tatty Bumpkin and her friend Crab to investigate the seaside summer fete, jumping in rock pools as they go. Which event will they enjoy the most: the coconut shy, the aeroplane roundabout or maybe the crab football match?

 

What CRAB POSE Looks Like 

Scuttle like a crab across the ground, snapping with your pincers!

Description (What to tell your child)

Sit down on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Place your hands behind you with your palms flat on the floor as well. Lean back slightly so you are leaning on your hands, then push up through your feet to lift your bottom off the floor. Now you should only be balancing on your hands and feet. Try to keep your bottom up off the floor so your body is flat like a table.

Note to parents: Younger children – Whilst your child is lying down, encourage them to lift their bottom off the floor. You will need to gently bend their knees and position their feet flat on the floor so they get the idea of pushing up through their feet to lift their bottom off the floor. To make this activity fun, pass toys under your baby’s bottom!

Be a little crab learning to scuttle!

Want to make it harder?

In crab position try walking like a crab, forwards, backwards and even sideways. Play crab football with your friends using a balloon!      

 

Can you score a goal in the crab football match?

  

Why it is ‘Good For Me’

Crab pose will give your child the opportunity to:

• Activate and strengthen their hip muscles. Crab pose is excellent for strengthening the gluteal muscles around the hip. If children become aware of these muscles early on and keep them active this will aid their hip stability and balance skills for sport. Active and strong gluteal muscles may even help prevent children adopting a ‘knock kneed’ standing and walking position in later life.

• Activate and strengthen their ‘shoulder’ muscles. Active shoulder muscles will help your child to control the weight of their arm for writing.

• Progress their spatial awareness skills (proprioception). Activities that provide feedback to the muscles and joints of the body’s position in space promote coordinated movement.  This is especially true for activities where muscles have to ‘work hard’ against a resistance. In crab pose your child will be working their muscles against gravity & their own body weight. Interestingly, these ‘work hard’ activities can help reduce hyperactivity in some children whilst helping other children who appear tired & floppy become more alert and engaged. 

Make it Multi-Sensory, Educational & Fun

All our classes are linked to the new 2012 EYFS framework meaning that your child will have the opportunity to progress in all areas of their development, giving them a truly holistic experience.

In Tatty Bumpkin classes we use unique storylines, songs, rhythms and natural props to make the activities: ‘meaningful’ for your child, and to give them the opportunity to use nearly all their senses.  This ensures your child has choice and is supported in their learning.

In this week’s class your child can ‘have a go’ at crab pose and maybe crab football! It is the day of the seaside summer fete and Tatty Bumpkin with her friend Crab are off to investigate. They find plenty of exciting events; the coconut shy, the aeroplane, roundabout, the dog show and of course the famous crab football match! So come along and join the fun!

Find your local Tatty Bumpkin class at  http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html