Curled Up Small in My Box

Each child climbs into a big open box and curls into a tiny ball like a hibernating animal, breathes slowly, then wakes up stretching little by little. It brings the class back to calm with squeezing and relaxing the body and slow breathing.

How to play

1. With soft music on, everyone picks a box and sits inside (1 min).
2. Winter's here: we curl into a tight little ball, like a hedgehog, and count to three (1 min).
3. Inside our ball we breathe slowly and feel our back rise and fall (1 min).
4. The teacher walks by gently tapping each box: “Knock, knock, it's spring”; the animal stretches out one arm, then the other (1 min).
5. We stretch our legs out of the box and yawn (1 min).
6. We climb out slowly, sit beside the box, and whisper what animal we were (1 min).

Rules

• In my ball I'm still and quiet.
• My box is just for me.
• I wake up when the teacher taps my box.
• I climb out slowly without pushing the box.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: curl up from the wheelchair by hugging their knees, or hug a box on their lap.
• Autism: the box can lie on its side or be draped with a cloth for a cozier feel, and the child can opt out of being tapped (the teacher taps the floor beside the box).
• Hearing impairment: the teacher stays in view and acts out sleeping and waking.

Learning goals

• Bring energy down after play.
• Feel the difference between squeezing and relaxing.
• Breathe slowly on purpose.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Large cardboard boxes: 25
• Soft music

Teacher tip

Boxes about 2 feet on each side are ideal: kids feel tucked in without being shut in. Speak slower and softer as you go; your voice sets the calm.

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