Closing the Shop: The Shutter Comes Down

It’s closing time at the corner shop: children put away the goods, switch off the lights and bring the shutter down with their bodies, from standing to lying down, very slowly and part by part. It builds postural control, segment-by-segment relaxation and calming down.

How to play

1. We’re shopkeepers at the end of the day: put away boxes from the counter with slow moves (1 min).
2. Cover the fruit with a pretend cloth: give ourselves a hug and breathe deeply (1 min).
3. The shutter comes down: start with arms up and lower very slowly, first the head, then shoulders, back and knees, going “ssss” (1 min).
4. The shutter reaches the ground: sit, then lie down and switch off the lights by closing your eyes (1 min).
5. The street is quiet: breathe slowly three times and get up very slowly to go home (1 min).

Rules

• The shutter comes down slowly, never all at once.
• I make a soft “ssss.”
• With eyes closed, I stay still.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: lower the shutter with arms and head from the wheelchair.
• Autism: signal the end ahead of time (the teacher switches off the light) and let the child choose to lie down or sit.
• Visual impairment: the teacher describes each part that lowers and gently taps the shoulder as a cue.

Learning goals

• Control posture in slow movements.
• Relax the body part by part.
• Wind down at the end of the session.

Teacher tip

Do it with them, exaggerated and slow. If the shutter crashes down, say it broke and we lift it back up.

More activities like this

More cool-downs for Elementary