Our Tinikling Cords are a safer and easier-to-use alternative to the bamboo poles used in Tinikling, a traditional Philippine folk dance. They are primarily used in physical education classes and aerobic workouts to safely teach rhythmic stepping and jumping. Since they are made with a soft webbing, the Tinikling Cords can be used without the risk of ankle injuries caused by snapping wood.

Traditional Tinikling uses rigid bamboo poles that can bruise the feet and legs of children or adults who are unfamiliar with the traditional dance. The Tinikling Cords provide a safer, accessible, and inclusive substitute for those looking to incorporate the dance activity into their music and movement classes.

Tinikling Cord Specifications:

• The cords are 1 inch wide x 7 feet long
• Made of durable, lightweight polypropylene webbing
• Each cord features a large hook and loop closure on each end with velcro, allowing it to fit easily over shoes and onto a user’s ankle or calf. The cords can also be held by hand rather than being placed on one’s ankle/calf. (see video linked below)
• Comes in a set of 12 with two of each color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Also comes with a drawstring storage bag.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Bear Paw Creek’s Tinikling Cords are not made of an elastic material, which means they do not stretch and are not flexible.

Tinikling Cords in Action from Lena Leon, The Crafter Teacher:

Click the image below or click here to see Lena Leon, The Crafter Teacher, and her class using our Tinikling Cords. In the video, you can get an idea of their size and also see how they would work being held by hand rather than the loops being placed around ankles/calves.

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Our original Stretchy Bands for creative movement come in four different sizes and are a complete circle. The Connect-a-Stretchy Band only comes in one size. However, it features a buckle system that allows you to disconnect the band and use it in a straight line in addition to the circle.

With the buckle system, you can connect additional bands together. Allowing you to create the size you need for your creative movement activities. This is ideal for those with varying class sizes or for those who like to use different-sized bands for different activities.

With the Set of 6 Connect-a-Stretchy Bands, you will be able to create all four original Stretchy Band sizes. Plus two larger sizes: an XXL (five bands connected) and an XXXL (all six bands connected). This would be a very fun way to engage a large group or classroom by allowing you all to be a part of the same circle.

With the six bands and their connecting capabilities, you would also be able to split larger groups into smaller groups. Instead of one large group on one circle, you could split everyone up into two or three groups! 

Hub 12 Connector:

Using a Hub allows you to turn your Connect-a-Stretchy Bands into fun shapes, such as: 

•  Octopus
• Sun
• Star
• Flower

Or whatever your imagination comes up with! Learn more about our Hub connectors here. Using a Hub only adds to the creativity and fun you can have with our Connect-a-Stretchy Bands!

Sizing Guide:

The sizing guide below gives the original Stretchy Band sizes along with the conversion chart for the Connect-a-Stretchy Bands. Determining how many you can fit around a band depends on the age/size of those you have in your creative movement class or session. When we say “people,” we are referring to tweens/teens and adults.

Check out our FREE resource guide to Stretchy Bands and Connect-a-Stretchy Bands. A combined 100+ song and activity ideas!

The post Set of 6 Connect-a-Stretchy Bands for Creative Movement appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

Size Options:

• 5-foot Play Parachute: at 60″ in diameter with eight handles, this is the perfect size for smaller groups or classes.
• 2.5-foot Play Parachute: at 30″ in diameter with four handles, this size is ideal for one-on-one sessions or small groups of 3-4 people.

The smaller and more manageable size allows you to have all of the benefits and fun of a parachute without being overstimulating. Another benefit of the smaller sizes is that you can practice and target specific skills for individuals more easily than you could with a large parachute and a large class, while still making it a fun group activity.

A few of the benefits of parachute play are:

• Gross motor skills
• Coordination and balance
• Teamwork
• Social interaction
• Listening and following directions
• Cognitive skills
• Rhythm

For some song and activity ideas to pair with the 5-foot play parachute, check out this blog post: Best Parachute Activities and Songs. 

Cleaning Your Play Parachute:

Bear Paw Creek’s parachutes can be machine-washed on a gentle cycle with cold or lukewarm water and mild detergent. Avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach or fabric softeners, as these may cause discoloration and damage over time.

Air-dry the parachute or use a low heat setting in the dryer to prevent damage; never iron. Our preferred method is air drying! Our parachutes come with a drawstring storage bag; the drawstring bag can also be machine-washed following the same instructions.

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