Reindeer With Ribbon Reins

In pairs, one child is a reindeer and the other drives the sleigh, linked by a ribbon: the reindeer walks and trots while the driver steers by voice between the houses in the playground. It builds matching your pace to someone else’s and trust in a partner.

How to play

1. The teacher shows with a child how to hold the ribbon: the reindeer holds it with both hands at waist height and the driver holds both ends from behind (2 min).
2. Reindeer walk: travel around the playground; the driver says “Right!”, “Left!” or “Whoa!” and the reindeer follows without yanking (3 min).
3. Reindeer trot between the cones, which are houses, and on “Whoa!” both stop together (3 min).
4. Switch: the driver becomes the reindeer and the reindeer becomes the driver (1 min).
5. Deliveries: trot from house to house and leave a pretend present at each cone with a little reindeer hop (3 min).
6. Tired reindeer lie down to munch moss while the drivers pat their backs; then switch (2 min).

Rules

• Hold the ribbon with your hands, never around your neck or body.
• The driver steers with words, no pulling.
• If the ribbon drops, we stop and pick it up again.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair drives with the reindeer moving at their pace, or is the reindeer with the driver walking alongside.
• Visual impairment: as the reindeer, the driver announces each turn early; as the driver, the teacher walks beside them.
• Autism: let the child choose a partner and start as the driver, which involves less contact.

Learning goals

• Match speed and direction with a partner.
• Follow and give simple direction words.
• Look after a partner during pair play.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Ribbons: 13
• Cones: 8

Teacher tip

Use fabric ribbons about three feet long, never long ropes, and repeat the neck rule before starting. The usual mistake is the driver pulling; ask for “loose reins, like a sleepy bow.”

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