The Beanbag Waiter

Each child is a waiter strolling around with a beanbag on an open palm like a serving tray, and when the drum sounds they toss it up a little and catch it. It gets bodies moving while working on object control and catching with one and two hands.

How to play

1. Hand out one beanbag per child and show the "tray": open hand, palm up, beanbag on top (1 min).
2. Walk around the space carrying the tray without dropping the beanbag, slowly at first and then a bit faster (2 min).
3. On one drum beat, waiters stop, toss the beanbag up a little and catch it with both hands (2 min).
4. Finish by placing each beanbag in the basket as if serving food at a table (1 min).
5. To finish, the waiters take a bow with their empty tray and take a deep breath (1 min).

Rules

• Each waiter carries only their own beanbag.
• Look where you're going so you don't bump into anyone.
• When the drum sounds, stop before you toss.
• If it falls, pick it up and get back to work.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child is a waiter in their wheelchair or walker, with the beanbag on a cardboard tray resting on their lap.
• Hearing impairment: besides the drum, the teacher raises a colored scarf as the signal to toss.
• Less dexterity: use a bigger beanbag or a small stuffed animal, which is easier to catch.

Learning goals

• Warm up the body with controlled movement around the space.
• Toss and catch a light object with one and two hands.
• Respond to a sound signal by stopping.

Equipment for a class of 25

• beanbags: 25
• hand drum

Teacher tip

Model the tray with an exaggerated, very serious waiter face; kids love it. The typical mistake is tossing too high from the start: ask for "a tiny hop, just up to your nose."

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