The Magnet Teddy: Near and Far
A stuffed animal acts as a magnet that pulls children in or pushes them away; they come close enough to touch it or move as far as they can. It warms up the body and builds the concepts of near and far.
How to play
- The teacher introduces the magnet teddy: when it says "Magnet!" it pulls the children close, and when it says "Anti-magnet!" it pushes them far away (1 min).
- The teddy sits in the middle: on "Near," children walk up and gently touch it with one finger; on "Far," they move away to the wall or the playground line (2 min).
- The teacher moves the teddy to a new spot each time (a corner, by the door) and we repeat near and far (1 min).
- With the drum: soft, slow beats mean we creep closer; loud, fast beats mean we hop away (1 min).
- We finish very close to the teddy, sitting in a circle, and thank it for playing (1 min).
Rules
- I touch the teddy with one finger; I don't squish it.
- I walk close without pushing.
- Far means really far: all the way to the wall.
- I listen to the word before I move.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use only near and far, with big gestures from the teacher (hugging arms, pushing arms).
Standard
For 4-year-olds, move the teddy around and add the drum.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, add "in between" (halfway) and "near a friend."
Adaptations
- Visual impairment: sew a large bell onto the teddy and have the teacher shake it so the child can orient.
- Limited mobility: bring the teddy near the wheelchair so the child can play moving toward and away by rolling or reaching.
- Hearing loss: show near with hugging arms and far with pushing arms.
Learning goals
- Tell the difference between near and far relative to an object.
- Warm up with back-and-forth movement.
- React to a spoken or sound signal.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Large stuffed animal: 1
- Hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
If the group is big, set the teddy up high (on a chair) so they don't pile up on the floor. The usual mistake is running wildly: practice "near" first at a slow walk.
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