Ball Sunscreen for My Partner

We pretend we're at the beach and, in pairs, one child spreads "sunscreen" by rolling a soft ball along the arms, legs and back of a partner lying down. It works on relaxation, body awareness and caring for others.

How to play

1. Sit in pairs with one soft ball: it's our sunscreen bottle so we don't get sunburned (1 min).
2. One lies face up and the other puts sunscreen on their arms, rolling the ball slowly from hand to shoulder (1 min).
3. Now the legs, from foot to knee, without missing a spot (1 min).
4. The child lying down rolls over and we do the back with slow circles; when we're done they say "I'm protected!" (1 min).
5. Switch roles so the other gets sunscreen (1 min).
6. Both lie back and soak up the pretend sun with eyes closed (1 min).

Rules

• The ball rolls; it doesn't bounce or get thrown.
• No sunscreen on the face.
• I press gently, like it's real lotion.
• If my partner says "stop," I stop.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: done seated in a chair, on the arms and on the back while leaning forward.
• Visual impairment: they feel the ball first and the teacher guides their hand on the first pass.
• Autism: they can apply the sunscreen to themselves or choose a ball with a texture they like.

Learning goals

• Relax with a gentle ball massage.
• Name and recognize body parts.
• Take care of a partner's body.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Soft balls: 13

Teacher tip

Soft rubber or foam balls work better than spiky ones here. Stress that the ball "never leaves the body": if it lifts off, it's turning into bouncing.

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