The Playground Seesaw

In pairs, holding hands, children become a playground seesaw: when one squats down, the other rises onto tiptoe, and then they switch. It warms up the legs, builds a shared rhythm, and practices trusting a partner's grip.

How to play

1. The teacher and a child show the seesaw: face to face, holding both hands; “Up!” “Down!” one squats while the other stretches tall (1 min).
2. Pairs seesaw very slowly, counting “up… down…” out loud (1 min).
3. The seesaw gets happy and goes a little faster, without letting go (1 min).
4. New playground!: everyone finds a new partner and seesaws holding just one hand (1 min).
5. Seesaw with a hop: the one going up does a small hop while the partner stays low holding their hands (1 min).
6. The seesaw stops: both end at the same height, standing, and slowly let go (1 min).

Rules

• I don't let go suddenly.
• I go down when my partner goes up.
• I hold on firmly but don't squeeze.
• When we switch playgrounds, I find a new friend.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: from the wheelchair, the child raises and lowers their arms while the partner raises and lowers their legs, holding hands.
• Autism: always count with the same numbers and let the child watch one round before joining.
• Visual impairment: the hand contact signals the switch; the partner says “up” and “down” out loud.

Learning goals

• Warm up the legs by bending and stretching.
• Match their rhythm to a partner's.
• Trust a classmate's grip.

Teacher tip

Have them hold wrists or hands, never clothes. The usual mix-up is both going down at once: exaggerate “You up, you down!” and point to each child.

More activities like this

More warm-ups for Elementary