In today's world, where digital devices play an increasingly important role, promoting physical activity in children is more important than ever. More and more five-year-old children are showing delays in their gross motor development, largely due to an increasing lack of movement and physical activity. In today's digital world, smartphones, tablets, televisions, and computers are ubiquitous in everyday life. Even preschool children are exposed to these technologies early and spend more time in front of screens than outside in nature. To ensure healthy development, it is crucial for children to experience regular physical activities. Although hopping on one leg may seem simple at first glance, some children struggle to maintain balance and coordinate their movements. If your child is still finding it difficult to hop on one leg, then practice regularly for a few minutes with your child, joining in the hopping. In addition to hopping, there are many other playful activities that delight children and simultaneously improve their motor skills. These include, for example, balancing on a chalk line, playing catch, or jumping rope. Through these activities, children learn to feel and understand their bodies better. This means that children develop an awareness of how their body works and are able to better assess their own limits. This plays an essential role in children's physical and mental development. Remember that motivation and praise have a positive effect on your child's self-confidence and also promote their enjoyment of exercise. Here are some hopping ideas on one leg.

Snake line
Draw a snake line with chalk on the ground and hop along this line on one leg with your child, counting the number of jumps aloud.

Large figure eight
Draw a large figure eight with chalk on the ground and hop along this eight with your child.

‍Hopscotch
Draw ten fields on the ground with chalk as shown in the picture below, writing a number from 1 to 10 in each field. First, show your child how the game works by demonstrating the jumps yourself. This helps children understand the movement patterns better. The child starts at field 1, hopping into the field either on one leg or on both legs. Then they make a straddle jump into fields 2 and 3, followed by a jump into field 4, again on one leg or on both. Your child repeats these jumps until they reach field 10, where they perform a 180-degree turn jump. On the way back to field 1, your child alternates the type of jump: a straddle jump in two fields, followed by a jump on one leg or both legs in the next field. More advanced children try to hop the entire distance on one leg, counting the numbers from 1 to 10 forwards and then from 10 to 1 backwards. Develop your own variations of the game with your child to increase the fun factor. When children try different types of movement, they develop a better understanding of their own body and its capabilities. These diverse experiences contribute to better development of their gross motor skills, like balance, coordination, and strength. Regular physical activity has a positive effect on children's well-being and encourages lifelong habits of physical activity.