Hopping is a springing action that involves taking off from one foot and landing on that same foot. It involves dynamic balance, with the non-hopping side adding counterbalance and force to assist with the continuous forwards and upwards movement. Hopping is a component of many other fundamental skills, (e.g. in skipping and kicking for distance, in sports like athletics (component of triple jump) and in dance activities).

What all you need for hopping?

Balance: They body is balanced when the centre of gravity is over the base of support. The base of support is the hopping foot and, to achieve balance, the body leans towards the hopping foot while the non-hopping side provides the counterbalance and the arms assist. Force: To achieve height or distance in the hop, a summation of force is required. This is achieved by extending the ankles, legs and arms forwards and upwards together.

Learning phase

Discovering phase

In this phase children enjoy being creative with hopping and discovering the different qualities of hopping. Characteristics at the discovering phase of learning are:

• body is upright
• very little height or distance is achieved in the hop
• Children lose balance easily – they can do only one or two hops.

Developing phase

Children develop hopping techniques through practicing the skill of hopping in games and activities. Characteristics of hopping in this phase are:

• children lean slightly forwards
• arms move forwards and backwards vigorously
• knees fl ex in landing
• Balance is poorly controlled.

Consolidating phase

Applying the skill of hopping to a variety of contexts is the focus of this phase. Characteristics of hopping in this phase are:

• non-hopping leg is used to support the take-off and momentum of the hop
• body leans forwards over the hopping foot
• arms are coordinated with take-off, moving forwards and upwards
• Hopping action is continuous and rhythmical.

Some of the activities are.

• Hopping Far and High
• Long Hopping Relay
• Hopping Tag
• Hopscotch
• Simple hopscotch: Players hop in sequence and place both feet in the empty spaces.
• Ladder hopscotch: In turn, each player throws the beanbag into square 1, hops over this square, picks up their beanbag and hops into square 1 and out. They then throw the beanbag into square 2, hop into square 1, hop over square 2 and into square 3, pick up the beanbag, then hop into square 2, into square 1 and finally They continue in this way up and down the ladder.

Draw the ladder with narrow rungs so the children have to jump sideways.

• Snail hopscotch : In turn, each player hops in each section of the snail until they reach the centre circle; they then reverse the sequence to hop out of the snail. When a player completes the snail, they claim a section of the snail by placing a beanbag in it. No one is allowed in this section except the owner, who can use this section to rest.