Resting Hands: On the Tummy, Under the Head

Lying down with soft music, children rest their hands on, under, beside, or above parts of their body while breathing slowly. It's a cooldown that builds spatial concepts using their own body.

How to play

1. We lie on our backs on the mats with soft music and close our eyes if we want to (1 min).
2. Very slowly, the teacher says where our hands land like butterflies: one hand on the tummy, the other under the head; we feel the tummy rise and fall (2 min).
3. More positions: hands beside the body, one hand on top of the other, arms up above the head for a stretch (2 min).
4. Our hands rest beside our face, and we feel the warm air coming out of our nose (1 min).
5. The butterflies fall asleep on our tummies; we take three breaths and slowly sit up (1 min).

Rules

• I stay lying in my spot.
• I move my hands very slowly, like butterflies.
• I talk softly or not at all.
• I sit up slowly when the teacher says so.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: do it seated in the wheelchair with the back supported.
• Autism: let the child use a blanket or a stuffed animal on the tummy if it helps.
• Hearing loss: the teacher sits facing the child and models the pose so the child can copy with eyes open.

Learning goals

• Relax and slow down breathing.
• Place hands in relation to parts of one's own body.
• Become aware of one's breathing.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Mats: 6
• Soft music

Teacher tip

Dim the lights if you can. Speak slower and softer each time; going through positions too fast tends to rev them back up.

More activities like this

More cool-downs for Elementary