Red Light, Green Light: Touch the Wall

A preschool version of a classic stop-and-go game: while the teacher faces the wall and chants "One, two, three, touch the wall," the children creep forward, and when the teacher turns around they freeze like statues. It works on starting and stopping on a signal in a traditional game, with no one getting out.

How to play

1. We explain this traditional game, known in Spain as "escondite inglés" and in the U.S. as Red Light, Green Light: the teacher stands at a wall and everyone starts on a line on the other side (2 min).
2. First we play walking: while the teacher chants, we move forward; when the teacher turns, statues (3 min).
3. If someone moves when the teacher turns, they take three baby steps back and keep playing (3 min).
4. The teacher changes how we move forward: on tiptoe, with giant steps, sideways (3 min).
5. When someone touches the wall, everyone cheers and that child is the leader for the next round (3 min).

Rules

• Only move forward while you hear the chant.
• When the teacher turns, freeze like a statue.
• If I move, I take three baby steps back and keep playing.
• Whoever touches the wall gets a round of applause.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: they move forward in their wheelchair, starting a few steps ahead so the distance is fair.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher raises a hand while chanting and lowers it when turning around.
• Autism: if going back is upsetting, swap it for staying still for a moment before continuing.

Learning goals

• Hold back movement on a signal.
• Adjust their speed so they don't overshoot.
• Learn and play a traditional game following the rules.

Teacher tip

In Mexico it's often played as "1, 2, 3, calabaza". Make sure nobody is out; taking a few steps back is plenty of consequence at this age.

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