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Copy and Extend Movement

Parent does a short movement pattern; child copies it, then adds one move of their own for the parent to copy back.

Cartoon illustration of a parent and child at home doing Copy and Extend Movement.
  • Age3 to 6 years
  • Time5 to 15 minutes
  • EnergyModerate
  • CostFree
  • WhereIndoors or out
  • PrepNone

You do a short sequence of movements, your child copies it, then adds one move of their own for you to copy back. The pattern grows as you take turns, and the back-and-forth is the fun.

How to do it

  1. Stand facing your child with a little clear space around you both.
  2. Do a short movement pattern of two or three moves (clap, stomp, spin) and ask your child to copy it.
  3. Once they copy it, invite them to add one new move of their own on the end.
  4. Now you copy the whole pattern back, including their new move.
  5. Keep taking turns adding a move, seeing how long a pattern you can both remember, then reset and start fresh when it gets too long.

What you need

  • Clear space

Make it yours

Younger, 3-4 years: Use just one move to copy and let adding a move be optional. Older, 5-6 years: Let patterns grow longer, or add a sound to each move. Siblings: Go around the circle so each child copies the pattern and adds a move.

Try this with your child.

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