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Interact, Understand, Expand
Uneven Bars: Interact
Fill in the appropriate boxes #1 – 9 with the animations provided to craft an uneven bar gymnastics routine. Now use the play button to watch your routine!
As you guide your young child through this unique interactive, you can consider each individual animation – What is the gymnast doing here? How did she learn to use her body like that?
You can also guide your older child to see how the "whole" (in this case, the final routine) is more than the sum of each individual "part" (the animations one by one). In gymnastics, the overall "presentation" of a routine, not just the individual skills is part of what the judges look for.
Uneven Bars: Understand
"Nothing encourages creativity like the chance to fall flat on one's face."
–author James D. Finley
There are many ways to be creative, and physical creativity is often overlooked. This interactive highlights a gymnast's ability to use her body, mind, and skills in the pursuit of an uneven bar routine. While the uneven bars are a women's event in competition, boys could certainly try them on their own or compare this activity to moves male gymnasts might perform on the high bar.
One characteristic shared by many creative people is the depth of knowledge and skill that underlies their creativity. For example, artists employ wide ranging artistic techniques, and composers know the qualities of instruments and how different sounds will work together. Gymnasts know the abilities and limitations of their bodies and how different skills will work together. No matter what the creative endeavor, deep knowledge and lots of practice enhance creativity!
For more thoughts about knowledge and practice, refer to Lessons and Instruction.
Uneven Bars: Expand
Maybe the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about — find joy in movement!
Offline Activities
Play Musical Mood Moves. Put on different kinds of music and move your body to their different musical styles. What "mood" does the music express? How can you tell?
Remember: Use your own creativity to generate ideas that inspire you and your child! To see an age-by-age breakdown of what your child might be ready for, check out the PBS Parents Child Development Tracker.
Online Resources
ZOOM! offers some Physical Challenges that encourage kids to use their bodies creatively to achieve an end goal. They are fun and can be flexibly used by just a few or lots of players:
These two PBSKids games are designed for very young children. In each, the player selects and clicks on different dance moves and watches the character dance.
Learn more about a physically creative person, Martha Graham, at the American Masters Web site.
Books and References
Here are some ballet books that give the message that anyone can dance if he really wants to:
- Bravo, Tanya by Patricia Lee Gauch, or others in the Tanya series (ages 4 to 8).
- Angelina Ballerina by Helen Craig, or others in the Angelina series. Some include stickers to complete the illustrations (ages 4 to 8).