The Newspaper Hat Stays On
Each child wears a folded newspaper hat and moves in different ways without letting it fall. Children work on balance, posture control and moving calmly.
How to play
- Hand out the pre-folded newspaper hats and everyone puts one on (1 min).
- Walk slowly around the room with heads straight, like kings and queens (1 min).
- The teacher changes it up: tiptoe, crouched down, sideways and backward (2 min).
- When the drum plays, sit down and stand up without the hat falling (1 min).
- Take a very slow bow, take the hat off and put it in the box (1 min).
Rules
- The hat stays on your head, no hands.
- If it falls, pick it up, put it back on and keep going.
- Walk slowly, looking ahead.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, they can hold the hat with one hand and only walk forward.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, no hands, with changes of direction.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, add ducking under a rope and stepping up a low step without the hat falling.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: in a wheelchair, lean the trunk forward, back and sideways while keeping the hat on.
- Autism or dislike of things on the head: carry the hat on a flat open hand instead.
- Visual impairment: walk holding a classmate's hand along a clear path.
Learning goals
- Keep the head steady while the body moves.
- Move in different ways with control.
- Warm up calmly and with focus.
Equipment for a class of 25
- newspaper hats: 25
- hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
Fold the hats before the session (the classic paper boat hat from a double sheet) or make them in art class the day before. The typical mistake is looking at the floor, which makes the hat fall.
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