Excerpts from our recent staff “Gross Motor Club Newsletter”
circuit
noun
a roughly circular line, route, or movement that starts and finishes at the same place.
verb
to move all the way around (a place or thing).
Our beloved Gross Motor Club member, Brenna Fisher, has been observing and tracking the children’s movements in the gym to gather info related to our gym research questions: How do the children move through the space? How can we use this info to inform how we set up the space for them?
Turns out they often move in circuits. In discussing these observations, we began thinking about the gym as “macro open time,” setting up stations with varied provocations for children to move through like an Open Time in the classroom but big! The definition of a circuit also brings our attention to the geometry of the space. For example, using simple geometry to define spaces can simplify the environment, and provide structure, allowing for complex and engaging play. Brenna’s set up photographed above is called, “The Stage”, and features a square around a circle, allowing for circular routes of movement throughout the space and a grounding focal point in the center.
“Heavy work” refers to activities that involve pushing/pulling/carrying. These activities create resistance input to the muscles, and this feedback helps to regulate a child’s nervous system. When children engage with heavy work, their bodies release serotonin and dopamine, which organizes neurotransmitters! It can improve proprioception and interoception, in turn supporting regulation. Tasks involving heavy work can also boost self-esteem and honor children’s desire for growing independence.
