Pony Ride on the Big Ball

In stations, children sit on a giant exercise ball held by an adult or classmate and bounce gently like riding a pony, lie tummy-down on it and roll forward and back. It builds balance, postural control and confidence.

How to play

1. Set up three stations, each with a ball on a mat and a hoop underneath to keep it steady; explain that the ball is a pony that moves (2 min).
2. Pony station: sitting on the ball with feet on the floor, the child bounces gently while we say “walk, trot” (3 min).
3. Turtle station: lying tummy-down on the ball with hands on the floor, roll forward onto the hands and back onto the feet (3 min).
4. Hug station: standing, hug the ball and roll it across the mat, moving the whole body with it (3 min).
5. Children who are waiting crawl like ponies around their hoop; at the teacher's signal, rotate stations (3 min).
6. Closing circle: at which station did we feel bravest? (1 min).

Rules

• Only get on the ball when a grown-up or friend is holding it.
• One child per ball; the others wait in the hoop.
• If I feel scared, I slide off slowly with my feet on the floor.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the adult seats the child on the ball and rocks it gently, with mats all around.
• Autism or fear of movement: start with the ball set in a hoop so it doesn't move, and let the child decide when to bounce.
• Visual impairment: the adult describes each movement beforehand and keeps a hand on the child's back the whole time.

Learning goals

• Balance while sitting and lying on an unstable surface.
• Adjust muscle tone to stay on.
• Build confidence with new movement sensations.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Giant exercise ball: 3
• Mats: 6
• Hoops: 6

Teacher tip

You need one adult per ball station, so do this with extra help or with half the class. Use 45–55 cm (18–22 in) balls so children's feet reach the floor.

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