Add a simple rope and hula hoop activity to your outdoor play space for imaginative play and gross-motor development.
If you’ve seen our Pool Noodle Abacus, our Tightrope, and our Rope and a Bucket activities you’ve probably gathered that we like using ropes for play here in my daycare.
Ropes can be classified as “loose parts” in your play space.
What’s a loose part?
Jenny from Let the Children Play says it best in a post called the Theory of Loose Parts, but basically loose parts are materials that have no pre-defined purpose in the play space. They can be moved and used in whatever manner the children like, giving kids the opportunity to explore, build, transport and create with them.
Small loose parts such as sticks and stones can be manipulated by little hands to be whatever the player wishes, and larger loose parts such as our rope and hula hoop encourage physical exercise and help to strengthen muscle tone, balance and co-ordination.
This activity was quick to set up, and it didn’t cost a thing, because I already had the hula hoops and the rope. I simply strung a very long length of rope over our clothes-line, and tied a hula hoop to each end of the rope.
This simple contraption provided hours of physical play for the hooligans during the week or two that it was rigged up.
My toddlers and preschoolers had a blast tossing balls through the hoops,
swinging and swatting at the hoops, and climbing and crawling through them.
There’s really not much else to say except that it provided hours of fun, and the kids got a ton of muscle and co-ordination-building exercise while playing with them.
I’ll just let the photos speak for themselves:
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
Rachael Rabbit
June 19, 2013 at 10:28 pmWe are so doing this tomorrow!!! Need to find a rope …. I wonder how the bucket & rope could be integrated into this idea as well …
happyhooligans
June 20, 2013 at 11:19 pmAwesome! Let me know how it goes, Rachel!
Cassie
June 20, 2013 at 7:02 amI just did a hula Hoop Post! They are so much fun to play with!
happyhooligans
June 20, 2013 at 11:20 pmThey ARE fun, aren’t they, Cassie? I guess they’re a “classic” for a reason!
Jenny
June 20, 2013 at 4:17 pmI’ve said it before but I want to say it again; You are amazing!!!! I look up to you so much and I strive to have my little child care as cool as yours! Thank you so much for all of the great ideas, I don’t know how you have the time to post them all but I am grateful that you do.
With much appreciation,
Jenny
happyhooligans
June 20, 2013 at 11:10 pmAw, thank you, Jenny! It means so much to me when I hear how our little daycare is inspiring others like your own. That’s just so cool, and that’s why I started blogging in the first place: in hopes of getting our ideas out there to other moms and carers who may be looking for some fun and fresh ideas. So thank YOU for taking the time to let me know how much you’re enjoying my posts, and for faithfully following along with us. Comments like yours make blogging so rewarding and worthwhile. As for how I have time to blog? Let’s just say I probably don’t get as much sleep as I likely should. lol
kitchencounterchronicles
July 3, 2013 at 10:52 amLove it! I love how something so simple can be SO much fun! Thanks for linking up to the Outdoor Play Party.
fitnesscheerleader
July 3, 2013 at 9:56 pmWow so fun!!! I’ll have to give that a try with my kids – thanks for the idea!
Megan Kenzie
March 10, 2018 at 3:18 pmWhat type of hoops are you using? Purchased or homemade, and what material? The cheap plastic hoops that I have would never stand up to this type of active play. I’ve been looking for wood hoops but haven’t been able to find any. Thanks.
happyhooligans
March 13, 2018 at 2:22 amOurs are just inexpensive plastic hoops, Megan. We’ve had them for quite a few years now, and they held up well. I’m guessing I picked them up at Walmart.