Blinds Up, Blinds Down
Children become the classroom window blinds: in the morning they slowly rise and stretch to let the light in, and at night they come down, bending all the way to the floor. It stretches the body and gets it ready to move.
How to play
- Standing up, everyone is a closed blind: arms tight against the body, crouched down (1 min).
- It’s morning: pull the pretend cord and the blind goes up in little tugs, “click, click, click,” until you’re stretched on tiptoe (1 min).
- Open the slats to let the light in: spread your fingers, arms and legs like a star (1 min).
- Night comes: the blind lowers slowly, bending at the waist until your hands touch the floor (1 min).
- Go up and down a few times, one fast and one slow, and at the end the teacher raises the real blinds (1 min).
Rules
- The blind goes up and down slowly, no hard jerks.
- Stay in your own spot with room for your arms.
- When the blind is closed, we stay still.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, just up and down copying the teacher, saying “click, click” together.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add the slats and alternate a fast blind and a slow blind.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the blind gets stuck halfway and they hold with bent knees for three seconds.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: seated, the blind rises with the arms and lowers by leaning the trunk forward.
- Hearing loss: show the “click, click” with a fist moving up in little bumps.
- Autism: always the same order, ending with the real blinds, which makes the activity meaningful.
Learning goals
- Stretch arms, back and legs.
- Control the speed of movement.
- Connect daylight with opening and closing.
Teacher tip
This works great first thing in the morning, right before you open the real blinds. When bending down, let them bend their knees if they can’t reach the floor: straight legs aren’t necessary.
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