Learning how to jump rope is a HUGE rite of passage on the playground!
As a child, I remember spending hours a day with my jump rope. My sister and I would see how fast or slow we could jump, we would race up and down the driveway jumping rope, and we would see how many times we could jump the same rope together while each holding a handle.
In my physical therapy practice, I often see children who have difficulty with coordination. One of my favorite things to work on with them is jumping rope. Why? Because this activity targets so many of the developmental skills that children need to be successful in school – bilateral coordination, motor planning, hand eye coordination, jumping, strength, and endurance – and jumping rope is often a benchmark for physical education class.
Here are some tips for teaching a child to jump rope. Remember, not every child learns to jump rope at the same time. It’s like learning to ride a bike…the more you practice, the better you get!
Put the handles of the jump rope into each hand. Begin with the jump rope behind your body.
Next, swing the jump rope gently to the front of your body and then to the back. Practice this several times just swinging the rope from the front to the back.
Now swing the jump rope to the front and let it stay on the ground. Keep the rope still and jump over it. Practice this step several times.
The next step is to swing the jump rope to the front of your body and when it gets close to your feet, JUMP! It takes practice to get the timing just right.
Now that your child has the hang of this all-important gross motor skill, let’s try some fun jump rope games and rhymes to keep them practicing! Here are a few of our favorite finds…
1 || This awesome video from ACE shows games like the SNAKE SHAKE and JUMP & SPLASH
2 || The JUMP ROPE INSTITUTE has a whole list of games that I had never even heard of as well as links to other sites for rhymes and videos.
3 || TEDDY BEAR GAME || This is a favorite of kids who have mastered jump roping and need a bit more of a challenge. To do this game, you will need a longer rope and two children to swing it while a 3rd child jumps.
Teddy Bear, teddy bear, jump around (turn while jumping)
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground (bend low before jumping up)
Teddy bear, teddy bear, tie your shoes (touch shoes before jumping up)
Teddy bear, teddy bear, got the flu! (jump out of the rope)
4 || You have to see this video to believe what these kids can do with a jump rope! Check out USA Jump Rope for some super creative inspiration and motivation!
5 || Check out this creative use for a pool noodle…Cut a piece of a pool noodle about one foot long. Place it in the middle of a jump rope as a great visual and a bit of weight to help kids learn how to flip the jump rope over their head without it tangling or getting stuck!
Check out these fun, free printable jump rope games for kids!
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