Tiptoe Past the Sleeping Baby

A baby doll sleeps in its crib in the middle of the room, and children tiptoe past it along a rope path, silently, so it won't wake up. Walking on tiptoe and in silence along a line builds balance and helps everyone wind down.

How to play

1. Tuck the baby into its blanket and lay a rope path that passes right beside it: "Shhh, the baby just fell asleep" (1 min).
2. Practice tiptoeing in place, rising and lowering the heels very slowly (1 min).
3. One at a time, tiptoe along the path past the baby without a sound (1 min).
4. On the way past, blow the baby a kiss or gently tuck the blanket, then keep going along the rope (1 min).
5. Lie down around the baby and "fall asleep" too, breathing slowly (1 min).

Rules

• I tiptoe without making noise.
• I don't grab the baby; I only tuck the blanket when it's my turn.
• I wait my turn quietly.
• If I make a noise, I freeze and then go even slower.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with limited mobility pass the baby slowly in their own way and tuck the blanket as they go by.
• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: the teacher puts a finger to the lips and points to the crib to explain the game.
• Students with autism can be the "mom or dad" watching the baby, signaling with a gesture if someone is noisy.

Learning goals

• Keep their balance tiptoeing along a line.
• Regulate their own activity and noise to calm down.
• Show care and gentleness in pretend play.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Baby doll: 1
• Blanket: 1
• Jump ropes: 4

Teacher tip

Dim the lights if you can; it does half the work. Go first yourself, tiptoeing exaggeratedly slowly, since that's the model they'll copy.

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