Soft Floor Explorers

Children travel along a path of thin mats, regular mats and a thick crash mat at the end, feeling each surface as they walk, crawl and lie on it. It helps the body get used to soft surfaces before rolling and falling.

How to play

1. Lay thin mats, regular mats and the crash mat in a row, and tell the class we're exploring "Soft Floor Land" (1 min).
2. First trip walking barefoot and slowly, noticing if the floor sinks a little or a lot (1 min).
3. Second trip crawling: "Where do your knees sink the most?" (1 min).
4. Third trip as bears on hands and feet, lying down on the tummy when they reach the crash mat (2 min).
5. In a circle, each child shares a favorite surface and why: squishy, hard, like a cloud (1 min).

Rules

• One behind the other, no passing.
• Wait until your friend is off the crash mat.
• Bare feet or non-slip socks.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: travel along the path touching each mat with the hands from the chair and describe how it feels.
• Visual impairment: go in a line along the wall with a verbal heads-up like "Softer one coming."
• Autism: let the child watch one round first, and don't insist on lying down if the texture bothers them.

Learning goals

• Explore different soft surfaces with the body.
• Adjust balance on an unsteady surface.
• Feel comfortable on the thick crash mat.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Mats: 6
• Thick crash mat: 1
• Thin exercise mats: 4

Teacher tip

Secure the mats so they don't slide apart; that's what causes the most slips. Bare feet work better than regular socks.

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