The Talking Cushion

Lying down and then sitting in a circle, children calm down and pass a cushion: only the child hugging it talks, sharing which rule was hard or fun today. It builds cool-down, listening and respecting turns to speak.

How to play

1. Lie on your back with hands on your tummy and breathe as if your tummy were a balloon filling up and emptying (1 min).
2. Sit up slowly into a circle. The teacher hugs the cushion and explains: 'Whoever has the cushion talks; everyone else listens with big ears' (1 min).
3. The teacher goes first: 'Today it was hard for me to wait in line.' She passes the cushion to the next child (1 min).
4. The cushion goes around: each child says one short sentence or passes, saying 'pass'; the rest listen with hands on their knees (2 min).
5. When it gets back to the teacher, everyone hugs an imaginary cushion and breathes out slowly (1 min).

Rules

• The child hugging the cushion talks.
• I listen with my hands on my knees.
• I can say 'pass' if I don't want to talk.
• We hand the cushion over; we don't throw it.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: bring the cushion to the child's lap; they stay in their wheelchair in the circle.
• Autism: they can hold up a feelings card instead of speaking.
• Hearing impairment: seat the circle so they can see faces, and the teacher repeats each answer with gestures.

Learning goals

• Calm down after activity.
• Take turns speaking.
• Express feelings about the game's rules.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Cushion: 1

Teacher tip

With a big group, make two circles with an adult in each, or go halfway around today and finish tomorrow. Never force anyone to talk: a respected 'pass' builds trust.

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