The Two-Person Stretchy Seesaw

In pairs, sitting face to face with legs apart and holding hands, one leans back while the other stretches forward, like a slow seesaw. They stretch the back and legs while helping and adjusting to each other.

How to play

1. The teacher and a child show how to sit face to face, legs apart with feet touching, holding hands or wrists (2 min).
2. The seesaw goes up and down: one leans back a little and the other is gently drawn forward, very slowly (2 min).
3. We softly chant «up and down, down and up» while the seesaw moves to the rhyme (2 min).
4. The seesaw turns: without letting go, circle the bodies as if stirring a big pot, one way and then the other (2 min).
5. The seesaw stops, let go of hands slowly and say thanks by tapping feet (2 min).

Rules

• I move my partner slowly, no yanking.
• If my partner says «stop», I stop.
• We don't let go of hands suddenly.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: do the seesaw in two chairs facing each other, leaning only from the trunk.
• Autism: partner with the teacher or a trusted friend, and hold a scarf instead of hands if they prefer not to touch.
• Different size or strength: pair similar kids, and the bigger one leans back less.

Learning goals

• Stretch the back and inner legs.
• Match strength to a partner.
• Cooperate to move together.

Teacher tip

Make clear the one leaning back doesn't pull: they just lean a little. «Stop» is sacred: practice it before starting.

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