Mother, May I? Giant Steps
Lined up, kids ask "Mother, may I?" and Mother (the teacher) lets them move forward with different steps: giant steps, baby steps, frog jumps, crab steps. It's not a race—everyone gets home and celebrates together.
How to play
- Mark the start line with a rope; the teacher is Mother on the other side (2 min).
- Learn the steps: giant steps, baby steps, frog jumps, crab steps, bunny hops (2 min).
- Mother gives the group a command ("three bunny hops"), kids ask "Mother, may I?" and move on "yes, you may" (4 min).
- Keep going until everyone reaches home and celebrate with a group hug (2 min).
- Play again with a child as Mother (2 min).
Rules
- Ask "Mother, may I?" first, then move.
- Count your steps out loud.
- Nobody wins—we all get home.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, commands for the whole group and the teacher counts along.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, commands by T-shirt color groups.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, combined commands ("two giant steps and one bunny hop") and the occasional "no, you may not," where kids stay still.
Adaptations
- Wheelchair users take short or long pushes for each step.
- For deaf or hard-of-hearing kids, show the number of steps with fingers plus an animal picture.
- For autistic children, always give commands in the same order: number, kind of step, go.
Learning goals
- Perform different locomotor movements.
- Wait for permission before moving.
- Count steps and control their size.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Rope or floor tape: 1
Teacher tip
The classic rewards the first one home; here the fun is in the variety of steps. Anyone who jumps the gun just steps back once—no fuss.
PatioLab has "Mother, May I? Giant Steps" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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