My Dog Is a Tunnel

In pairs, one child does down dog while their partner crawls underneath like it's a tunnel; then they switch. They hold the pose with strength and look out for the friend going through.

How to play

1. In a circle, the teacher does down dog and a child crawls under to demonstrate (2 min).
2. In pairs on the mats, the first child makes a dog with the bottom up high and the second crawls slowly underneath (2 min).
3. Switch: now the other one is the dog and the first one goes through (2 min).
4. The dog turns sideways to make the tunnel wider; the one going through slithers like a snake (3 min).
5. Join two pairs to make a long two-dog tunnel; the other two go through, then switch (3 min).

Rules

• The dog holds still while their partner goes through.
• I go through slowly without touching the dog's hands or feet.
• If the dog gets tired, they say «down» and go to their knees.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: be the tunnel with the arms (seated, arms in an arch) while the partner rolls a ball through.
• Visual impairment: the crawler follows the dog's voice saying «in» and «out».
• Autism: if crawling under feels like too much, start as the dog and go through only when ready.

Learning goals

• Hold a strength pose for a few seconds.
• Crawl and slither carefully.
• Look out for a partner in a contact game.

Equipment for a class of 25

• colchonetas: 6

Teacher tip

Mats matter because some dogs collapse suddenly. Stop before arms get tired: many short turns beat one long one.

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