Feet Up the Wall, Nap-Time Body

Lying on their backs with legs resting up the wall, children rest their legs, breathe with hands on the belly and let the body get heavy. They relax the legs after moving and slow the heart rate down.

How to play

1. Each child finds a spot by the wall with room to lie down without touching anyone (1 min).
2. Sit sideways against the wall, lie back and swing the legs up the wall as if walking up it (1 min).
3. Legs rest straight up the wall, hands on the belly to feel it rise and fall (2 min).
4. Legs slowly open into a V and close again; then bend like a frog stuck to the wall (1 min).
5. Bend the legs to bring them down, roll to the side and sit up slowly (1 min).

Rules

• Legs go up and down slowly.
• Each child has their own piece of wall.
• While I rest, I don't talk.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: rest the legs on a chair or a tall cushion instead of the wall.
• Hearing impairment: show each step with pictures; the teacher taps their shoulder at each change.
• Autism: a blanket over the legs gives calming weight.

Learning goals

• Relax the legs after activity.
• Breathe slowly into the belly.
• Slow the body down.

Teacher tip

Check the wall first: no outlets, hooks or things that could fall. Getting into place is the hardest part: show it yourself, sideways first and then turning.

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