Eyes on Early Years Volume 17 | Page 12

5. Jumping games with hula hoops There are so many different ways of using hoops for jumping games. Think of different patterns, jumping with 2 feet or like a tyre run where alternate feet go in each hoop. Pattern 4 is the classic hopscotch pattern, where children jump from 2 feet to one and back to 2. This can be tricky at first, especially for the younger children, so try asking them to jump feet together into the single hoop, feet apart one foot in each of the 2 hoops. Saying ‘Open, shut, open shut’ can help children achieve this.