The Traffic Light for Feet
Children walk around and follow a cardstock traffic light: green means walk, yellow means tiptoe, and red means freeze on one foot. It warms up the body while practicing stopping on cue and holding balance.
How to play
- Sitting in a circle, the teacher shows the three cards and acts each one out: green walk, yellow tiptoe, red freeze on one foot (1 min).
- Free walking, switching between green and yellow and changing direction whenever they like (1 min).
- Red card: everyone stops on one foot and counts out loud together, "one, two, three," before putting the foot down (2 min).
- Red again with the other foot: "Now the foot that was resting" (1 min).
- The traffic light turns off and everyone tiptoes very slowly back to the circle (1 min).
Rules
- On red, my body stays still like a lamppost.
- If my foot comes down, I lift it again and keep counting.
- I walk without bumping into the cars next to me.
- I keep my eyes on the teacher's traffic light.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, on red it's fine to freeze on both feet; lifting a foot is just for those who want to.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, on red they stand on one foot while counting to three.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, add a blue card for "freeze on tiptoes" and hold the red pose up to five.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility or wheelchair users: on red, stop and lift an arm or leg from the chair, holding still to three.
- Visual impairment: the teacher pairs each color with a sound (clap, snap, stomp) and the child walks holding a buddy's hand.
- Autistic children: give them their own red card to hold up for the group now and then.
Learning goals
- Stop on a visual signal and hold a one-foot pose.
- Alternate regular walking and tiptoeing.
- Warm up the body while paying attention to signals.
Equipment for a class of 25
- colored cardstock: 3
Teacher tip
Hold the card up high and don't switch too fast: at this age they need a couple of seconds to react. The typical mistake is hopping on one foot instead of standing still, so model it in a big, exaggerated way.
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