I have a question about the 1.4 Jump Rope Movement Card.

Am I correct to understand that you say the rhyme while jump roping AND
acting out the rhyme?  How does that work?  Climbing stairs while jumping at
the same time?

Thanks for any insight that you can provide!

~ Kristin in Georgia

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Kristin,

Hello! I’m so glad you wrote. It’s SUCH a help when customers write and tell me that something is unclear. Now I can improve it for others. Thank you!

This is a pretty “advanced” jump-roping skill, isn’t it? Yes, it’s meant to be acted out WHILE jumping, although the part about going upstairs isn’t literally on stairs (that would be pretty dangerous, huh!!!), but to simply lift your knees extra high as if climbing stairs. We did this as kids, in a long jump rope, where two girls would be turning the rope, and the jumper in the middle was jumping and acting out. She would be jumping, and when the rhyme said “turn around,” she’d have to jump WHILE turning, etc. It was tough. Not too many could make it all to the end without messing up, which was probably why we did it for hours (it seems) at recess, trying to compete with each other. LOL!

“Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, show your shoe
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, that will do!
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs-
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers-
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the lights-
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say good-night!”

I included it in the curriculum because it brings back such memories of grade school recess, memories that my own homeschooled kids just don’t have.

BUT… wow, yeah, it’s hard. My own kids can’t do it either. Here’s what we do. We just try to jump and say the rhyme! That’s tough enough!!!!! LOL! Then maybe you can share some of your own grade-school recess memories with your kids, and they’ll love hearing about what you did when you were young.

I’ll get this changed (or notated) or something in the curriculum, so that others understand what I’m saying here.

Many hugs,
~Anne