Queen's Chair and Other Old-Time Carries

Grown-ups teach the ways they used to carry kids when they were little: the queen's chair (a seat made by two grown-ups' hands), horsey rides on hands and knees, and the airplane swing holding hands. Kids feel balance in new positions and learn games passed down through generations.

How to play

1. Opening circle: the teacher asks grown-ups how they were carried around as kids, and two of them share (2 min).
2. Two grown-ups demonstrate the queen's chair: they grip each other's wrists to make a seat and chant a made-up rhyme, "Here comes the queen on her chair, riding slowly through the air"; the child sits and holds their shoulders (2 min).
3. In pairs of families, each child takes a short ride on the chair to a cone and back while everyone chants (4 min).
4. Horsey: the grown-up gets on hands and knees on the mat and the child sits on their back; they take a slow lap around the mat (3 min).
5. Airplane: standing, the grown-up holds the child's hands and turns slowly, the child's feet brushing the ground, like a plane taking off (2 min).
6. Each child picks a favorite ride to do one last time and thanks their "horses" (1 min).

Rules

• Sit down carefully and hold on tight.
• Rides are slow: nobody runs here.
• Sing while you wait for your turn.
• If you don't want to ride, you can help with the singing.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the grown-up pushes the child's wheelchair "like a horse," with sounds and changes of speed; if safe, the queen's chair can be done seated on a mat.
• Autism or fear of height: start with horsey, which is the lowest, and nobody rides unless they want to.
• Grown-ups with limited strength or back pain: they make the chair at knee height without lifting, or lead the chanting and rhythm.

Learning goals

• Keep balance and posture while being carried.
• Learn traditional childhood games from their elders.
• Cooperate and build trust between families.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Mats: 8
• Cones: 4

Teacher tip

Pair grown-ups for the queen's chair before you start, ideally two of similar height. Do it on mats or grass and always at walking pace; for the airplane, the child's feet should brush the ground.

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