Dancing Hand, Trotting Pony
Hand Gesture Games, Songs and Movement Games for Children in Kindergarten and the Lower Grades
Quick Look
A lovely collection of games based on movement, for use with young children.
Description
Children love these games for the pure joy of movement. In their dancing rhythms adults, also, will find that the active involvement of the hands with the tongue revives the whole human being.
In a series of happy games for the dancing, playing hand the movements of hands, fists, thumbs and pointers fit to the spoken word in poetry and song. They stimulate the speech center in the child's brain and promote speech development.
A second group of games portrays animal games. These are magical, as they transform us into snail, bunny, pony and many other creatures. They lead us to the wellspring of the joy of existence and active participation in the world around us.
Author
Wilma Ellersiek (1921–2007) taught music, speech, and dance at the Stuttgart Music Academy. Her research into the effects of rhythm, movement and language on young children led to the development of the first gesture games, which became foundational to Waldorf early childhood programs worldwide. She is also the author of Gesture Games for Autumn and Winter, Gesture Games for Spring and Summer, Giving Love, Bringing Joy and Dancing Hand, Trotting Pony.
Kundry Willwerth was a Waldorf kindergarten teacher for over 30 years. For the last 20 years she has devoted herself, together with her husband Lyn, to translating Wilma Ellersiek's books, playing the games with children in her care and presenting workshops throughout North America and internationally. She is also the founder and artistic director of Magic Garden Puppets, a marionette theatre company in central New York state.
Links
Other books by Wilma Ellersiek:
Gesture Games for Autumn and Winter
Gesture Games for Spring and Summer
Giving Love, Bringing Joy
