The Cushion Mountain Where Teddy Waits

The teacher sits a teddy bear on top of a low mountain of mats and cushions, and children crawl up to give it a hug and come down rolling or sliding on their bottoms. It builds safe climbing up and down, balance on soft surfaces and confidence with the adult always close by.

How to play

1. The teacher shows the squishy mountain and sits Teddy at the top: "Teddy is all alone and wants hugs" (1 min).
2. The teacher shows how to crawl up slowly and how to come down sitting, like a slide (1 min).
3. In turns of two or three, crawl up, hug Teddy and slide down on your bottom (4 min).
4. Try another way down: rolling like a log down the lowest side (3 min).
5. Walk up holding the teacher's hand, hug Teddy and come down with a little jump onto the mat (2 min).
6. Lie down around the mountain and Teddy comes by to say good night (1 min).

Rules

• We climb two or three at a time, not everyone at once.
• No pushing on the mountain.
• We come down sitting or rolling, never head first.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the adult helps the child up the mountain to hug Teddy while sitting, and they come down by scooting on their bottom.
• More fearful children: they can hug Teddy from the bottom, standing, while the teacher holds him out.
• Visual impairment: the adult describes each part of the mountain and guides the child's hands before climbing.

Learning goals

• Climb up and down a soft surface safely.
• Keep balance on unstable surfaces.
• Build confidence with the adult close by.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Mats: 4
• Large cushions: 8
• Teddy bear: 1

Teacher tip

Never build the mountain higher than the children's waists, and surround it with mats. Stay right beside the mountain: fearful children will climb if they can feel the adult's hand.

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