Free Play and Movement Exploration
"And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof." — Zechariah 8:5
God Loves When Children Play!
Did you know that God talks about children playing in the Bible? In the book of Zechariah, God paints a picture of a happy, peaceful city. And what does He put in that picture? Boys and girls playing in the streets!
Playing is not wasting time. Playing is one of the most important things children do! When you play, you are:
- Building muscles that make you stronger
- Training your brain to solve problems
- Practicing social skills like sharing and taking turns
- Being creative — inventing new games and movements
- Having JOY — which is a gift from God!
Today is a special day because you get to explore and play freely. You get to try new movements and invent your own ways to move!
Silly Walks and Animal Movements
Let us start by trying some fun, silly ways to move. These movements are not just silly — they actually build different muscles and help your body become stronger and more flexible!
Bear Crawl
Get on your hands and feet (not your knees!). Walk forward with your hands and feet like a big bear. This makes your arms, shoulders, and core very strong!
Crab Walk
Sit on the ground. Put your hands behind you. Push your hips up off the ground. Now walk backward on your hands and feet with your tummy facing the ceiling! This is hard work!
Frog Jumps
Squat down low like a frog. Put your hands on the ground in front of you. Now JUMP forward, landing in a squat again! Ribbit, ribbit!
Penguin Waddle
Stand with your feet together and your arms straight at your sides. Take tiny steps, rocking from side to side, like a penguin on the ice!
Bunny Hops
Put your hands up like bunny ears. Hop forward with both feet together — boing, boing, boing!
Free Play Time!
Now it is time for free play! You can play on the playground, run in the field, play with friends, or make up your own games. Here are the rules for free play:
- Be safe — look where you are going, do not push or shove
- Be kind — include others, share equipment, use kind words
- Be active — keep moving! Try new things!
- Have fun — enjoy the wonderful body God gave you!
Why Is Play Important?
God put the desire to play inside every child. Children all over the world — in every country, every culture, every language — play! They run, they chase, they climb, they throw, they pretend. This is not an accident. God designed children to learn and grow through play.
When you climb a tree, you are building arm strength and learning to assess risk. When you play tag, you are developing speed, agility, and quick thinking. When you make up a game with your friends, you are learning to communicate and cooperate.
Play is how God designed children to grow. So play hard, play joyfully, and thank God for the gift of play!
Jesus Played Too!
Did you know that Jesus was once a child just like you? Luke 2:52 tells us that "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." He grew in stature — that means He grew physically. Jesus ran, played, and grew strong, just like you are doing right now!
What We Learned Today
- Play is a gift from God — He designed children to learn through play
- Animal movements build strength — bear crawls, crab walks, frog jumps
- Free play develops our bodies and minds — creativity, muscles, social skills
- Jesus grew physically too — He was once a child who played and grew
- Be safe, be kind, be active, have fun!
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