Unique course or training groups?

What is the difference ?

- unique course: all children follow the same circuit , one after the other, they carry out the various activities which are part of the course. For example, they climb on a structure, then have to roll several times, then jump through rings, cross a range of obstacles, are in balance on a beam…a kind of obstacle course.

 

- training groups: each child has to participate to 4 or 5 different trainings. In small groups, he/she repeats during a limited time the same exercise, until the teacher asks him/her to change and go to another group. For example, children of a group will jump from a table onto a large carpet and will repeat this action until the signal of change is given, while other are climbing on a structure and other are making throwing exercises ....

Which organization should you prefer ?

That depends on the level of children and on the available space..

For children of 3 to 4 years and 4 to 5 years the unique course is better suited ; they need less space than older children to make interesting exercises. A unique course is easier to organize.You can mark out the ground to guide the children along the path that they have to follow and show them the whole course before starting the training. You can arrange 2 different starting points in order to reduce waiting time. You can change one or two elements of the course every week : the remaining elements are good reference marks for the children, while the new ones stimulate their capacity to adapt.

If a large space is available, the unique course is also good for older children. age 5 to 6 years , who need more space, because they should be proposed more difficult trainings. In case of limited space , training groups are preferable if you want to give to these older children the opportunity to spend their energy.