What are Lummi Sticks?

Lummi sticks, also called rhythm sticks are simply wooden sticks approximately 10 inches long. Lummi sticks can be made from 1 inch thick dowel rods. Lummi sticks are also available for purchase from several manufacturers and are sold in sets of two. Some lummi stick sets contain one smooth lummi stick and one rippled or ridged lummi stick. This allows preschoolers to rub the smooth stick back and forth across the ridged stick to make a fun scratchy sound as part of some lummi stick routines.

Lummi Stick Basics for Preschoolers

How to Hold Lummi Sticks -Lummi sticks should be held near the ends for most all of the basic movements. Most lummi stick movements use two sticks at a time, so preschoolers hold one lummi stick in each hand.

Sitting on the Floor -Preschoolers can use lummi sticks while sitting on the floor, sitting in a chair, standing up or marching. For beginners, have preschoolers sit on the floor with their legs crossed. This sitting position allows use of the floor space around the body.

Sitting in a Chair -Preschoolers can also use lummi sticks while sitting in a chair. Although this position doesn't allow for the use of the floor for tapping, a few lummi stick movements can be done while preschoolers sit in a chair. Some preschoolers who have special physical needs can't sit on the floor, but these preschoolers can still participate in lummi stick activities if they have use of their shoulder and arm muscles.

Standing -Once preschoolers have mastered using lummi sticks in a seated position, they may want to try some standing lummi stick routines. In standing routines, when lummi sticks are tapped on the floor, then preschoolers must squat down to reach the floor which increases the difficulty and the physical activity level of lummi stick routines. While standing, preschoolers can also move their feet in different ways such as marching, taking slow steps or lifting one knee up, all motions that add balance skills to lummi stick routines.

Basic Movements with Lummi Sticks

Sitting on the Floor with Legged Crossed

When preschoolers sit on the floor, they can tap lummi sticks in a variety of ways. Listed below are some of the basic lummi stick moves.

Cross Tap - Preschoolers tap the lummi sticks together by crossing one over the other and tapping the sticks together with the center sections touching.

Frton Tap - Preschoolers tap the opposite ends of the lummi sticks on the floor space in front of their crossed legs. (Ends of sticks are pointing towards child and away from child.)

Side Tap - Preschoolers tap the opposite ends of the lummi sticks on the floor space on either side of their crossed legs. So one stick taps out to the right and the other stick taps out to the left. Side tap can also be done with both sticks to the right side or both sticks to the left side.

Shoulders - Preschoolers tap the opposite end of the stick on their shoulders.

End Tap Preschoolers tap the ends of the sticks on the floor. End tap can be done either in front of crossed legs, to the sides or to only one side or the other. (Ends of sticks are pointing straight up and straight down - looks like the number 11 from preschooler's point of view.)

Sitting in a ChairToe Tap - Preschoolers tap the ends of the sticks on their toes. This requires preschoolers to lift up and straighten their legs.

Side Tap - When preschoolers sit in chairs, the side tap requires that preschoolers lean over to touch their lummi sticks on the floor.****Standing****Marching - Preschoolers can march around the room or march in a circle while they cross tap or shoulder tap.

Knee Tap - While standing on one foot preschoolers can lift one knee and tap one or both sticks on their knee. This move requires quite a bit of balance so use this move only after preschoolers have mastered basic lummi stick movements and routines.****

Adaptations for Children with Special Needs

Add a Table - As mentioned above, even many preschoolers with special needs will be able to participate in lummi stick activities. If a preschooler can not sit on the floor, but can sit in a chair, push the chair up to a table. Make sure there is plenty of room between the preschooler and the table for the child to extend their arms and tap lummi sticks on the table.

Lummi Stick Routines

Instructional CDs and Tapes:Several companies offer instructional audio CDs and video tapes with music accompanied with verbal instructions for routines.

Make Your Own: Design your own routines to music or chants.

Internet: Check out the internet for lummi stick routines that others have designed. Read Nursery Rhyme Lummi Stick Routines on PreschoolRock.com and look for future lummi stick routines on the Preschool Fitness Section.

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More Articles About Lummi Sticks on PreschoolRock.com

Nursery Rhyme Lummi Stick Routines

Rhythm Stick Activities">

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Helpful Tips for Parents

• Fine motor and gross motor development support each other. Children who move well also develop hand strength and coordination more effectively.

• Competitive sports are generally not appropriate before age 6–7. Preschoolers benefit most from cooperative physical games where everyone succeeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much physical activity do preschoolers need per day?

The WHO and CDC recommend that preschoolers (ages 3–5) be physically active throughout the day, with a minimum of 3 hours of physical activity daily — including 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous intensity. This can be accumulated across multiple sessions. Most preschoolers meet this recommendation easily if given outdoor access and unstructured play time, but children in settings with limited outdoor access or high screen time frequently do not.

Related reading: See also our dance party activities and our swimming and water safety guide for more ideas on this topic.

🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop

• 💪 Strength Building — Age-appropriate strength challenges — climbing, pushing, carrying, and holding body weight — build the muscle development that children need for endurance, injury resistance, and the hand strength that fine motor tasks require.
• 😌 Emotional Regulation — Physical activity is one of the most effective emotional regulation tools available to preschoolers — vigorous movement releases stress hormones and resets the nervous system for calm, focused engagement with other tasks.
• 🧠 Brain-Body Connection — Research consistently shows that physical activity directly improves concentration, working memory, and academic readiness — making fitness time one of the highest-return educational investments in a preschooler's day.
• 🌱 Lifelong Active Habits — Children who have joyful physical experiences in the preschool years are dramatically more likely to be active adolescents and adults — making every positive movement experience an investment in lifelong health.

by Kelly Pfeiffer

Preschoolers will practice rhythm skills and coordination skills as they tap sticks together, front, side, back and more with lummi stick activities. When preschoolers practice rhythm skills, they develop muscle coordination as well as language skills in the brain for reading, speech and vocabulary. Lummi sticks can be used by preschoolers as an individual coordination activity or in a group setting. Either way, lummi stick activities engage preschoolers to learn about rhythm, coordination, listening skills, language patterns and body awareness.