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The Parking Lot Falls Asleep

At the end of the day in town, each car rolls very slowly into its painted parking spot, turns off its engine part by part and falls asleep lying down. It helps children slow down, relax and breathe.

PhaseCool-down

Duration6 min

Ages3–6

SpaceAny space

EquipmentChalk, Soft music

IntensityLow

How to play

The teacher has drawn big chalk parking spots; cars drive very slowly around the lot with soft music (1 min).
Each car pulls into its spot and sits down: we turn off the headlights by closing our eyes (1 min).
Turn off the engine: take a deep breath and blow out making a "brrrr" sound with our lips, softer each time (1 min).
Lie down while the teacher, in a calm voice, switches off the wheels (legs), the steering wheel (arms) and the horn (mouth closed) (2 min).
The parking lot wakes up: stretch like a car getting started and sit up (1 min).

Rules

We pull into our spot very slowly.
With eyes closed, the engine rests.
No honking in the parking lot.

Variations

Easier

For 3-year-olds, sit in the spot and do the "brrrr" with the teacher without lying down.

Standard

For 4-year-olds, lie down and switch off the parts one by one.

Harder

For 5-year-olds, each child says at the end how their engine feels: fast, normal or calm.

Adaptations

Limited mobility: a child using a wheelchair relaxes seated in their spot with eyes closed and hands in the lap.
Autism: the child may keep their eyes open on a fixed point, with a spot off to the side where it's quieter.
Hearing impairment: the teacher gently touches or points to each part being switched off.