I need your ideas for teaching children

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samhorse

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Been asked to teach my friends children (on an unofficial 'friends' basis) They are 6 and 8 years old with a little 12.1 pony. Both are just off of lead rein and can rise to the trot. It's been many years since my kiddie teaching days and I've not a clue on what I can do to keep it 'fun' and yet still learn at the same time. Any ideas much appreciated :)
 
if you have a menage with rails and letters put a stone on the rail at some of the markers and get the children to pick up the stone @ M and trot with it 2 C then leave it at C walk 2 B and take B's stone 2 A (for example) this teaches children transitions and where the markers are, if ponys are suitable the kids can have a race moveing stones around.Good exercise for balance as well.Old favorites are round the world and half scissors, see how many they can do in 30 seconds. poles can be placed around to play walking over ect
 
Lay out poles on the floor to form a maze, they have to steer their way through without the pony stepping over any of the poles.:)
 
rossiroo said:
if you have a menage with rails and letters put a stone on the rail at some of the markers and get the children to pick up the stone @ M and trot with it 2 C then leave it at C walk 2 B and take B's stone 2 A (for example) this teaches children transitions and where the markers are, if ponys are suitable the kids can have a race moveing stones around.Good exercise for balance as well.Old favorites are round the world and half scissors, see how many they can do in 30 seconds. poles can be placed around to play walking over ect
Click to expand...

Unfortunatly we don't have a menage, just a grass area. I like the sound of the rest though. Thanks :)
 
Another good one for little kids is to see how many different ways they can change the rein or put 2 poles down as a 'corridor' and they have to trot up to the poles and then walk through them so as not to wake the troll under the bridge and then trot after the poles. The older one may be too old for this idea but keeps things simple and fun.
 
pole on the ground, stopping just before it, just past it and half over it, they also think they're jumping so very exciting!!

Around the world, scissors, thread the needle touch toes with opposite hand etc all good for balance. You could time them doing around the world then scissors then touch toes and compare times, a little healthy competition!

Get on and off 3 times in a row, time it and look for improvement in time.
 
when we were little our teacher got 2 of the over zealous little boys to race the length of the school carrying their ponies saddles. It was all light hearted and fun but heavy! Afterwards she reminded them lightheartedly that pony is carrying you as well as the saddle so sometimes it's nice to give pony a rest!

I think this was a nice way to deal with someone elses kids without telling them off for pulling/kicking too hard when pony was being good.

I'm sure your freinds kids are lovely but just for the idea bank!
 
Lots of imagery when you try to explain stuff, for example when I was 10 I couldn't sit to the canter and my RI told me to pretend I was pushing a yellow pages off with my tummy. Worked very well :)

Lots of pole stuff, weaving and going over the bridge etc.
 
As others have said do lots of poles and maybe try to get them weaving between cones to help with steering and stuff. As Koko said, use lots of imagery to help them understand.
Let us know how it goes :)
 
As people have said, fun stuff that teaches balance and direction. Around the world, scissors, half scissors, touching the ponie's ears and tail, the children's toes on each side. Lots of gymkhana games. Bending, flags, moving mugs up and down a set of poles, dropping balls in buckets.. Getting them to do transitions at certain markers (give them lots of notice). Tig - you tig them, and they have to steer to wherever you run in the field/school... General position - get them to tell you how they should be sitting - keep them thinking... I love teaching diddies - enjoy yourself!
 
Agree with the others, lots of games and competitions! I've sometimes done a game where you scatter a few poles around at random and each person gets one minute and has to cross as many poles as possible - good for steering, and especially good when you're trying to get someone more confident in asking for canter or starting to move towards jumping, because the adrenaline and competitive spirit tend to mean you start getting canter strides and even little pops over the poles without any dramas.

For the stage they're at, it might also be worth sticking them back on a lead rein now and again and doing fun things for improving balance - superman arms, aeroplane arms, hands on head, heads shoulders knees and toes, etc etc, as well as the static games.
 
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