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Leap into Leap Year
Leap Year only comes around once every four years, so get outside and celebrate it!
What’s Leap Year?
Explain to your child that one year is 365 days long because that’s the amount of time it takes for the Earth to travel around the Sun. But actually, it takes our planet 365 days AND about 6 hours to make the trip.
So every four years, we add an extra day to the calendar—February 29th—to even it all out. This year is one of those years with an extra day. To celebrate, leap outside for some fun.
How Steep is Your Leap?
If you live in a snowy part of the country, don’t build snowmen, build snow hurdles! Make several low mounds of snow around your yard or an open area. Run and leap through the obstacle course you’ve made!
If there are no flakes to be found, use low boxes or have your child jump over the cracks in the sidewalk.
Play Leap Frog
Get down on your hands and knees and drop your head. Have your child put his or her hands on your back and try to leap over you wit his or her legs on either side of your body. Then your child should crouch down so you can leap, too.
Leap the Creek
Lay two sticks or pieces of rope parallel to each other to form a gap for your child to jump over. Have your child “leap the creek.” Keep making the creek wider, a little at a time, to see how far your child can jump before “falling in.”
Activity: Susan Goodman