From Knees to Spring With a Clap
Children wait on their knees like squished springs, and at a clap they stand up, do three little hops and kneel back down. It practices switching quickly from one position to another and warms up the legs and knees.
How to play
- Spread out, everyone kneels with hands on thighs: we are squished springs (1 min).
- At each clap, the spring lets go: stand up as fast as you can, three little hops, and back on your knees (2 min).
- The teacher calls where the spring lands after the hops: kneeling, sitting or squatting (1 min).
- Now the spring pops up from sitting cross-legged, then from lying on the tummy (2 min).
- Finish with a spring that lets go very slowly, in slow motion, and goes back in its box (1 min).
Rules
- I wait on my knees and don't stand before the clap.
- I get up in my own spot without bumping.
- I kneel down gently instead of dropping hard.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, start only from kneeling and sitting, and just standing up and clapping is enough.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add starting from lying down and the three hops.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the teacher calls where to start from ("On your bottom!" "On your tummy!") and, at the clap, they try to get up without using their hands.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair answers the clap by stretching arms and trunk up and coming back down.
- Hearing impairment: clap high and clearly, with arms above the head.
- Less coordination: the child may use their hands to get up and do just one hop.
Learning goals
- Move quickly from kneeling, sitting or lying to standing.
- React to a sound signal.
- Warm up legs and knees before the main activity.
Teacher tip
On hard floors, play on mats or grass to protect knees. Remind them the spring pops up, not forward.
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