Can Your Child Jump Rope?

By: Dr. Steve Sanders, Author of “Moving Matters” and Professor at University of South Florida

Parents are a child’s first and best teacher and can have a positive influence on physical activity by simply setting aside a few minutes each day to practice movement skills, introduce new skills and play with their child. Take for example the basic skill of jumping rope.  

Jumping rope has always been part of the culture of childhood. Even children as young as three can learn the movement patterns involved in swinging a rope and jumping. By the time they are five most children can turn the rope and jump several times in a row.

Did you know the exact origin of jumping rope is unclear; however, jump rope dates back all the way to the Egyptians? The basics include swinging the rope over your head then jumping on two feet and landing on two feet over the rope. Beginners should master this technique first before moving onto more advanced jumping.

A jump rope seven feet long with plastic beads along its length is most appropriate for young children. The plastic beads give extra weight to help a child swing the rope over the head. A longer rope tends to tangle. To assist young children in learning to jump rope parents can provide children with the following instructions:

• “Hold your rope by both handles in front of your body with thumbs on top pointing down.”
• “Make sure that the middle of the rope is flat on the floor.”
• “Step over your rope.”
• “Bend your elbows up to your ears.”
• “Move your arms forward and swing the rope over your head.”
• “Let the rope hit the floor.”
• “Jump over the rope, take off and land on two feet.”

Safety Note: Initially ask your child not to jump while the rope is in the air. Children will sometimes do this and lose their balance. The rope should strike the floor in front of the child before the child jumps. Children learning to jump need to jump off two feet and land on two feet to help them stay on balance.

In as little as five minutes a day your child can develop the skills to jump rope. Whatever the skill or physical activity, the most important ingredient needed to help your child develop a foundation of physical skills is for you to set aside time each day to play with your child. Have fun jumping rope!

Questions about jumping rope and other foundational physical skills for preschoolers are answered in the new book Encouraging Physical Activity in Preschoolers from Gryphon House Publishers.  We created this book to help parents answer these questions and many more.  Physically active preschoolers have a greater chance of being healthy for a lifetime.  For more information see https://www.gryphonhouse.com/books/details/encouraging-physical-activity-in-preschoolers. 

About the Author: Steve is a professor at the University of South Florida where he is currently involved with the preparation of physical education teachers along with conducting research related to curriculum and instruction in early childhood physical activity.  His most recent project is the book series “Moving Matters” in which he outlines for parents of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers a variety of fun physical activity experiences to assist children in developing the needed physical skills to become physically active and healthy throughout life.