Pretend Tennis Players
With no equipment, children pretend to be tennis and baseball players, swinging invisible rackets and bats at imaginary balls while moving and jumping. Arms, trunk and legs warm up as they rehearse the striking motion.
How to play
- Pick up your invisible racket and wave it like a fan to wake up your wrist (1 min).
- The teacher tosses pretend balls: hit on one side of your body, then the other (1 min).
- Shuffle sideways across the court to reach the ball and whack it (2 min).
- Switch to an invisible bat: feet apart, twist your body and swing hard (1 min).
- Wave to the crowd and put your racket away in its case with a deep breath (1 min).
Rules
- My racket is invisible, but I never hit anyone.
- I make big swings with my whole body.
- I run looking ahead.
- When the teacher says "Point!", I freeze.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, forward and one-side swings only, standing in place.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, swing on both sides and add side shuffles.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the teacher calls "forehand!" or "backhand!" and they pick the right side.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: swing while seated, using trunk and arms.
- Visual impairment: guide the hand motion the first time and use claps to signal the side.
- Autism: give a real or cardboard racket so the motion feels less abstract.
Learning goals
- Rehearse a striking motion with trunk rotation.
- Move sideways.
- Enjoy active pretend play.
Teacher tip
Exaggerate the moves and add sound effects ("pow!") so they copy you. Keep about an arm and a half between children: the racket is invisible, but the arm isn't.
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