Skipping is a compound large rhythmic motor skill that can be done in place or moving forward or backward over the floor. It is an important skill to master as the elements make up parts of the more advanced polka motor skill.

The whole series of 16 large rhythmic motor skills beginning with the easiest to most complex includes: walking, running, marching, galloping, sliding, hopping, jumping, leaping, pedaling, prancing, toe pointing, skipping, waltzing, minuet, schottische, polka.

For kids that have learning disabilities that make balance difficult, assist by holding one of their hands while they practice.

Skipping Technique

Skipping is most easily learned moving in a forward direction. Look at the illustration.

Begin with feet parallel. Legs change role of supporting leg and working leg alternately. The supporting leg balances the weight of the body while the moving leg, the working leg, moves.

One foot steps forward in a walking step with a little hop, and the opposite leg goes forward while bending at the knee as in illustration. Then the opposite foot steps forward and adds a little hop, and the other knee lifts in front.

Step and hop; step and hop; step and hop, and continue. The rhythm goes like this: the step is on the & and the hop is on the full count, which means the hop has twice the time of the step.

&/ 1 &2 &/1 &2 &/ 1 &2 &/ 1 & 2 continuing …

Arms to the sides for balance at first, and later arms can be used in opposition, such as when the right foot steps forward, the left arm swings forward, and when the left foot steps forward, the right arm swings forward.

Skipping Kinesthetic Lesson

Have students go to a back corner of the room. They will be moving with partners across the room on the diagonal to the opposite front corner. Each student holds hands with their partner. An idea is to pair up a stronger with a weaker skipper to get the weaker student moving along in the rhythm. As in all rhythmic motor skills it is important to master the rhythm before the physical coordination, (which will come with practice).

The 1st pair do 4 skips, then the 2nd pair begin. This gives the teacher time to see if there are any problems and keeps kids from crashing into each other.

After all have skipped to the opposite front corner, have students reassemble at other back corner and skip in same pattern to opposite front corner.

The benefit of skipping is the coordination needs both right and left hemispheres of brain to work together, so the connections between are strengthened. Skipping elements are part of the more advanced polka rhythmic motor skill.

For more practice

All 16 basic rhythmic motor skills and dances for practice are in my book:
Rhythms and Dances for School Age Kids


Article and illustration by Susan Kramer